As the calendar flips to a new month, it’s a good time to turn over a new leaf, so to speak, and establish healthy routines.
You’ve probably started a lot of these just by necessity because of the new school year. Things like kids going to bed while it’s still light outside and eating something besides s’mores for dinner.
But here’s a few other rhythms you could add that might really enrich your life this fall:
- Morning: Pray for your child before they leave the house. No matter how rushed your morning is, there is always time for prayer. Pray they can be brave, be a good friend, and be a light for Jesus.
- At school: Drop a note in your child’s lunch or backpack letting them know you are cheering for them, praying for them, and will be eagerly waiting to connect after school. (Take time on Sunday to write out five of these in advance). 🙂
- After school: Ask open-ended questions about: new friends, favorite subjects, interesting people, fun games and stories. Are there people you can bless, places to be generous, needs you can meet? Do you have questions about anything you heard? Are you confused about anything you were taught? Are you concerned about anyone you encountered?
- Dinner: Play Low/High. Go around the table and share the hardest or worst part of their day. Then everyone shares their best part of their day.
- Bedtime: Read a portion of scripture or a Bible story together and discuss what it teaches us about God. Ask how you can pray for your child and then pray for them out loud before saying good night.
It’s likely your life won’t accommodate all of those ideas. But could you add one or two more intentional discipling times with your kids this week? The goal isn’t perfection, but connection. What a blessing to have a brand new month to try a brand new habit!
“The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts. Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, NIRV).
Here’s to new seasons,
