Splinks for June 29th - July 5th

I’m So Embarrassed!

Share an embarrassing moment with your kids. (It’s good for them to see that you make mistakes and feel awkward and embarrassed by what you’ve said or done! It humbles you and that is a good thing.) Let the kids share a time when they were embarrassed.

Ask:

• How did you feel when you made a mistake?
• Why is it okay to make mistakes and what should you do?

Romans 12:3b says that we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Every one does dumb things; every one says things they shouldn’t. It is a proud attitude that says, “I’m never wrong” (an attitude that God resists). Be willing to admit when you are wrong and laugh at yourself (not at others). I was in a hurry to make a phone call and when I got the answering machine; I quickly left a message ending with “In Jesus name, Amen.” I looked at my husband and he looked at me—I could tell he wanted to laugh. I felt so foolish, but when I laughed about it, my husband could laugh WITH me and it diffused the situation.

Prissy Pride

Items needed: balloon and marker
(If you don’t have a balloon, draw this “character” on a piece of paper.)

Blow up a balloon large enough so you can draw a face on the balloon. Announce that this is “Prissy Pride.” Make a statement about “Prissy” and blow her up a little more each time. (She is getting more prideful each time.) If you have older kids, ask them to help you add characteristics of pride to your description of Prissy Pride.

• Prissy Pride thinks about herself all the time. (blow up the balloon a little more)
• Prissy thinks she is better than others. (blow)
• Prissy makes fun of what others wear. (blow)
• Prissy won’t talk to certain people. (blow)
• Prissy brags about her good grades. (blow)
• Prissy always has to be first. (blow)
• Prissy pushes others around. (blow)
• Prissy says bad things about others to make herself look good. (blow)
• Prissy is very proud! (Keep holding the balloon)

Ask your kids to tell you the Bible story about the two men who went to the temple to pray. One was very proud and kept telling God all the good things that he had done and how glad he was that he was not like other sinners. The other man was humble and asked for God’s forgiveness and help. Read 1 Peter 5:5

(Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”)

Let go of “Prissy” and let her fly around the room.
After she has been retrieved, ask:

• Why do you think God resists the proud?
How do you feel toward proud people?
• How does a person with a humble attitude act?
• Which attitude do you have?

(If you have younger children, they may want to blow up Prissy again and repeat some of the statements about her. This is a good way to help them see what a proud attitude is so they can avoid it.)

The “I” Game

Pick an hour of time (it can be riding in car, playing a game, watching TV, eating dinner, etc.) and play the “I” game. Instruct the kids (adults play also) to see if they can go one hour without saying “I.” Each time they use the word “I’ or “me” they get one point. They can catch each other using the word if they like. Keep a tally and see who says “I” the most. (The one who says “I” or “me” the least number of times is the winner!)

Ask: Was it easy or hard not to talk about yourself? Why?

Read Philippians 2:1-8 aloud to find out what kind of attitude to have. Check your attitudes.