Jesus' Questions: Day 3

I'm trying something new this Lent. My goal is to find a simple way to talk about living our faith with my children on a daily basis, outside of our (more) formal studies of Scripture and Catechism. This series is based on the questions Jesus asks within the Gospel of Matthew. I am brainstorming here some ways to discuss these passages with each of my children and am sharing with you in hopes that you and your children might be blessed by daily faith sharing. If you try this with your children, I would love to hear about your conversations in the comments!

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? ~ Matthew 6:25-26

 

Focus ~ God loves us so very much that he will always provide the things we need to love and serve Him. Sometimes that might not look like what we expect, and that can cause worry. He wants us to trust in Him at all times and not worry about material things. We must be very careful not to think too much about food and clothing and toys and stuff but to be grateful and thank God daily for the things we do have.

Littles ~ Where do birds find their food? Who gives it to them?

Middles ~ Are you grateful for the things that you have? In what ways can you show your gratitude today by not complaining, not worrying, and thanking God?

Bigs ~ Why does God love us more than birds? What can you do if you start to worry today; how can you stop the worry and turn to God?

Moms ~ Share about a worry that you have right now. Then share about a time in your life when God provided generously for you despite your worry.

Jesus' Questions: Day 2

I'm trying something new this Lent. My goal is to find a simple way to talk about living our faith with my children on a daily basis, outside of our (more) formal studies of Scripture and Catechism. This series is based on the questions Jesus asks within the Gospel of Matthew. I am brainstorming here some ways to discuss these passages with each of my children and am sharing with you in hopes that you and your children might be blessed by daily faith sharing. If you try this with your children, I would love to hear about your conversations in the comments!

But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you .  .  . For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? ~ Matthew 5:44-46

 

Focus ~ It is easy to be kind to those who are kind to us. Jesus asks us to love everybody, all the time. We are called to reach out to each person we encounter in a caring way, regardless of how they treat us or how different they are from us.

Littles ~ What does it mean to be kind?

Middles ~ When is it difficult to be kind? To whom can you make a special effort to be kind today?

Bigs ~ How have you made a special effort to reach out to someone unknown to you? Today how can you greet another person with love?

Moms ~ Give examples of ways Christians are persecuted in the world today. Perhaps tell about how St. John Paul II forgave his shooter or St. Maria Goretti's killer was at her canonization. Talk about how we can respond with love.

Jesus' Questions: Day 1

I'm trying something new this Lent. My goal is to find a simple way to talk about living our faith with my children on a daily basis, outside of our (more) formal studies of Scripture and Catechism. This series is based on the questions Jesus asks within the Gospel of Matthew. I am brainstorming here some ways to discuss these passages with each of my children and am sharing with you in hopes that you and your children might be blessed by daily faith sharing. If you try this with your children, I would love to hear about your conversations in the comments!

You are salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. ~ Matthew 5:13

 

Focus ~ Each one of us has been blessed with an amazing gift! We have the possibility to be spiritually united with Christ every day. Our lives are called to be a constant reflection of His incredible love to everyone. We can be the flavor of the world, setting the tone for everything that happens around us.

Littles ~ Does food taste better or worse with salt? What can you do today to make someone's day  better?

Middles ~ Do you reflect Christ's love to others? How can your attitude bring joy or discouragement to those around you today?

Bigs ~ How strong is your spiritual life? Are you full of flavor? How can you enhance your relationship with Christ today?

Moms ~ Tell about a time when your spiritual life was dry. How did you resurrect it?