Prince of Peace
Evan and I are constantly talking about things we can do to make our
home more centered on Christ and how we can best teach our children
about Him in meaningful ways. My new years {and lifetime} resolution is
to be a better parent and so I was praying for some specific ways to do
that.
The past week I have really enjoyed my scripture study session in the Topical Guide on Family: Responsibilities toward Children. That's really saying something too because most often it is a challenge to get any scriptures even read let alone studied. One of the scriptures I came across was 2 Nephi 25: 26 which says:
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
I've read that scripture a million times, and read it to other people a lot too. I have quoted it often when people inform me that because I am Mormon, I am not Christian. I thought of it as a broad description of what we as a people do. But this time it came to me totally differently. Instead of reading it as Nephi explaining the culture of a large group, I read it as Nehpi describing what he and his wife do in their home for their children. When I read it again, this time looking for some instruction for the year of parenting ahead, it came to me like this:
"And {Evan and Kamille} talk of Christ {not just at Easter and Christmas, or just on Sundays, but every day, weaved in and out of casual conversation}, we rejoice in Christ {we acknowledge to our kids that He is the reason we are happy, especially when we can tie it to a specific example}, we preach of Christ {we teach about Him during family night and also in our daily discipline by using Christlike approaches and scriptural vocabulary ie "show kindness" instead of "be nice"} , we prophesy of Christ {we regularly bear our testimonies to our children}, and we write according to our prophecies {we record our personal miracles with the Savior and remember to read about what we've experienced as a family to our kids when they're old enough to understand}, that {Winston and Cosette} may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
When Evan and I were first married we knew we wanted a picture of Christ in our apartment but having the budget of two full time college students, we just went with one that was on clearance at a local bookstore. It was great and served its purpose but last year we came across the painting above and knew it was time to upgrade, it just spoke to us and was a perfect representation of how we feel about our Savior. It came in the mail today and I am so happy to have it on my wall as a reminder of the goals we have for our home this year, and all the years ahead.
"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
Deuteronomy 6:7
You got the print! Yay!! I need to come see it! P.S. you two are such great examples. Thanks for being our friends and for always giving us ideas for being better parents!
ReplyDeletePerfectly said. Love your catch up posts!!
ReplyDelete