The Jesus-Centered Home #6: Common to Commentary

As I continue this series to help give simple ideas about transforming our families and homes to be places where Christ is honored above all things, I want to share something that we do.

EVERYDAY LIFE
One of our aims is to take common, everyday events and things we see and use them to teach eternal truth. Whenever we have the opportunity, we bring things back to the Bible. Sometimes we may miss an opportunity but we are constantly trying to teach our children to see things from God's point of view.

FOR EXAMPLE?
When we see common things such as a traffic accident, a child having a tantrum, a TV couple being rude to each other, or a beggar on the streets, we make comments and ask questions that help our kiddos to see it from God's perspective. Like, "Oh, let's stop and pray for whoever was in that car." Or, "what did you think about that little boy screaming at his mommy? Was he having the right attitude? But he really wanted those cookies. Why didn't she get them for him?" Or, "Is that wife being kind and respectful toward her husband? Is that the way mommy talks to daddy?" Or, "how do you think Jesus wants us to treat poor people?"

WORTH THE EFFORT
It takes a degree of effort, in order to make it a habit in your life to constantly be teaching... but it is so worth it. We don't even have to start those conversations now with our oldest son (who's almost 5). He notices rudeness, and he is aware of idolatry (both in the real, Thai Buddhist sense, and the monetary, materialistic sense). He raises his eyebrows when people are rude to each other on a TV commercial or show (i.e., Nellie on Little House on the Prairie). We want to transform his worldview into one that reflects God's ways. To view sin as sin. To aim for righteousness and a life that pleases God. To live with self-control and a sense of honor. To have compassion for the poor.

"For as he calculates in his soul, so is he." -Proverbs 23:7

If we want his thoughts, his inward calculations, to be pleasing to Christ when he is a man, we ought to be instilling those things now, in the basic, simple moments of every day life.