Honoring Teachers

Being faithful just means staying at it--not quitting.

Since the school year is ending, this would be a good time for your kids to honor their teachers. Encourage them to think about this very faithful group and write a note of thanks. Give them some sentence starters: I’m glad you’re my teacher because…; I like it when we…; You are really good at… If they are very young, let them draw a picture and add words of praise at the bottom.

PS  A gift card to a restaurant or store would be a generous touch and much appreciated.

The Next Telephone Pole

Tell the story and watch the video about Terry Fox’s faithfulness to run and raise money for cancer research.

Terry Fox was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer and forced to have his right leg amputated six inches above the knee. While he was in the hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients (many of them young children) that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.

Terry ran 3,339 miles across Canada at almost 26 miles a day with a prosthesis. When asked how he managed to keep going in his cross country run, he answered, “I just kept running to the next telephone pole.”  After 143 days, Terry was forced to stop running outside of Ontario because cancer had appeared in his lungs. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at age 22.

To date, more than $400 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry's name through the annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world.

If you want to watch a five minute video commemorating Terry Fox's cross Canada run go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF8k8hpyp_A

How can a person remain faithful? Focus on a small goal and stay with it (run to the next telephone pole).

Thank You, Mom!

No one is more faithful than a MOM!!!! Plan a special celebration to honor her–and also grandmas. Serve her breakfast in bed or make her a special meal or dessert. Make her cards (moms love those homemade cards), thanking her for ______________--fill in the blank with what you’re glad she does.

When you go to the store for milk or bread, give your older child the money and ask her to run in and buy it. When she comes out with the money, see if she gives you the change. If so, praise her for being faithful in this small thing (you get more of the behavior you praise). If not, ask for it. 

Read Luke16:10a (He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.) If you are faithful to do what is right in small things, you will some day be faithful in big things (with lots of money).

But you promised!

Tell your child that you will do something together after dinner (watch a movie, play a game, take a walk, etc). After dinner, when they ask you to do the activity, say, "I don't want to."

Ask:
How did you feel when I said that I didn't want to do it? (disappointed, sad, mad, etc)
Why should we do what we say?(others will be able to trust us, to count on us, others will respect us, etc)

Describe a faithful person. (one you can count on to do what he is supposed to do or says he will do; one who is loyal or keeps his word)

God is faithful! (Deuteronomy 7:9 says that God is a faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keeps His commandments to a thousand generations.)

We should be faithful to God because He is faithful to us.

Don't forget to do the activity together!

Tug of War

Play Tug of War.
Gather all the kids (if they’re small) on one side and let Mom and Dad be on the other side. When you say “go” start pulling, but then drop the rope and walk away. Then go back and play a real game (with teams evenly distributed).

Ask:
How did you feel when we walked away? (mad, thinking that was unfair, cheated)
Why is important to do what you're supposed to do - stick with a task - until it’s done? (It’s not fair to the other people on the team, nothing will ever get accomplished if you quit, etc.)

Even when we are not faithful, God is faithful to us – He keeps loving, forgiving, and helping us!