As you know, if you’ve been reading, for quite some time, I’ve occasionally been running little installments called “Mama’s K.I.S.S.” I know that lots of readers could give many more and far more creative ideas than I can offer, but these installments are just a few tried and true and mostly old-fashioned ideas for putting service hearts in our kids. This is number 67 of a list of one hundred ways we train our kids to serve. K.I.S.S. is an acronym for “Kids In Service Suggestions”.
As our children grew to be upper elementary, middle and high school ages, my husband would choose a premise–any premise– and state it to a particular child. Examples might be:
Christianity does not solve all my problems.
Faith is not a leap in the dark.
Worship has a beginning point and an ending point.
Suffering has benefits.
We live under a spiritual law today.
You get the idea. Then my husband would say “Develop this point.” The child would then formulate, organize and articulate on paper (or occasionally just from memory) a list of ideas and evidences that make the statement true. Then the child would speak the arguments back to Dad and they would discuss why the logic was on target or why it was flawed.
This simple exercise taught our children so many valuable ways we must use complete and unflawed logic to determine our values.
If I were to choose just one of these 100 practical service suggestions that I believe is most valuable in growing servants for Him, this would be the one. Critical thinking skills are largely missing in the generation from which our children emerged as adults. Logic has been replaced by feelings and the result is a lot of young adults who are leaving the reasoned faith. This little exercise is not the answer, but it is a tool for modifying this outcome.
Don’t be discouraged if the first few efforts on the part of your child are simplistic, difficult, or even result in blank stares. Keep the faith about this one and keep trying. Soon your children will be able to stand up and present the arguments for truth articulately. (Speeches, by the way, presenting points for a premise, will naturally come from this exercise. Debaters will emerge!)
How does this relate to service in our kids’ hearts? It relates in every way. When we establish critical thinking skills, the Bible and its directives champion the lives of our children. They learn the eternal value of living life God’s way. Service is the natural outcome of lives directed by the will of our immensely benevolent Father. If we trust God, we are living to glorify Him. If we love Him, we serve our brethren (Matthew 25, 1 Jn 3:10ff, James 2:14ff). Further, your children learn how to be kind and evangelistic. This is an activity that eventually prepares your kids to bring souls to Jesus. That’s the greatest kind of service.
Don’t skip this one!
