Amid new routines, transitions and challenges, Shelley Logan thinks that families have a unique opportunity to model prayer, honesty and trust in God that will shape their children for years to come
Thinking in families shifts rapidly around about now from the summer holidays to new schools, classes, or colleges. Whatever stage of life your children are at, it brings changes and maybe challenges as you prepare yourselves and your children for what lies ahead.
As teachers encourage parents to help their children to learn new skills to make the transition easier, uniform pops up in shops and Ikea offers everything the student needs to make the move from home go well, maybe as Christian parents we can ask, if there is more to this cycle year on year? The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds that when it all seems to go around and is never ending, God is sovereign, he never changes and speaks into the mundane of everyday circumstances (Ecclesiastes 3:14).
a simple but effective way to build faith resilience in children is to model your relationship with God to them
So, without adding pressure to an overwhelming to-do list what can Christian parents do to prepare children for the days ahead?
Some children will be starting in reception class and learning to sit or use scissors and others will be navigating new friendships or life away from parents as they start university. Whatever tricky days may be ahead, a simple but effective way to build faith resilience in children is to model your relationship with God to them. Rachel Turner helpfully refers to this as ‘creating windows,’ into spiritual practices.
Children learn what is important to adults by what the adult does or doesn’t say, however, often your relationship with God can be hidden. In the next week maybe consider leaving a Bible open on a table and mention what you have learnt and how that may influence how you will behave in the future. Tell your children if something has been difficult with a friend or at work and discuss how you handled it based on what you have read about how Jesus handled something similar, or how you followed a command in scripture when faced with a dilemma, or how God promises to wipe away every tear when things are tough.
Saturate their minds with truth that will be their foundations when you are not around
Children, especially those starting school, college or university for the first time, need reminding of the promises of God as they navigate the new stage without you. God’s commands Joshua to not be afraid, because God himself would go with him and never leave him (Joshua 1:5) could be particularly help at these times. Saturate their minds with truth that will be their foundations when you are not around. In the car, or whilst playing at home, play music that speak the truth of who God is and what his word says as well as modelling your faith.
Let children ‘evesdrop’ on your prayers for them, their friendships and challenges at school. Pray out loud when they think you don’t know they are listening. Bring the everyday issues of their life (and yours) to God so they will learn how to do this for themselves. Very few of our prayers start with ‘Dear God’ and end with ‘Amen’ as they are conversations throughout the day, yet so often this is how children think they should pray as it’s mainly what they hear. Modelling the everyday, conversational prayer that goes on in heads and heart could change the way children pray and help as they prepare to chat to God in their daily lives in the new school year.
As summer gives way to a new school year, your greatest task is helping them to know and trust the God who goes before them
Also, over the next few weeks surround children with a community who share the truths you hold. At Christmas children buy into the Santa myth because everyone behaves as though it is true by leaving out mince pies and milk and is asking the same question - whether on TV, an aunty from afar and friends at school- “What is Santa bringing?’ So, use summer to immerse children in relationships where others are saying the same as you. Organise play dates with other Christian families who you know with model the truths, actions and attitudes you want your children to imbibe ready to stand firm at school when faced with challenges.
Enjoying movies nights as a family can be a lot of fun and an opportunity to teach truths, we want our children to hold or challenge behaviour we want them to question when faced with similar situations at school. Films can be used to rehearse alternative narrative if someone behaved differently or acted in a more biblical manner. AI can provide help a synopsis to help you choose ones which would be helpful and suitable.
As parents, you cannot prepare your children for every challenge they may face in the coming year. But you can help them know the God who remains the same through every season. As summer gives way to a new school year, your greatest task is helping them to know and trust the God who goes before them. As the truths they have seen modelled, the promises of God hidden in their hearts, and the habit of bringing everyday life to him in prayer will remain. Those are foundations that will serve them well in every season still to come.
