Phil and I agree that the sweetest part of our day is going in Nolan's room and waking him up. It is just adorable to watch him stretch and stir as he awakens to a brand new day. From there, we get him ready and the last thing we do before leaving for the day is feed him and do our family devotion. Watching and listening to daddy lead us in a devotion and prayer adds so much umph to the day. Over the past several months we have established these 4 core values that we want to teach our children:
1. Attentiveness - Yes, paying attention. I, myself, struggle with attentiveness and have to work on it daily (just ask Phil). Attentiveness must be intentional and at the forefront of the mind. We want to teach our children to be actively involved and engaged in what they are doing and in their surroundings. Besides, how else are the other values and skills taught without first having attentivness?
2. Respect - Pretty simple, but consistency is the key. Old fashioned values are being established in the Heppding household.
3. Obedience - This goes hand in hand with respect. We hope this will be a reflection of their heart and will be a result of consistency and teaching on our part.
4. A teachable spirit - We are not seeking for our kids to just easily learn new things (though that would be nice). But we hope their attitudes will reflect a willingness, joy, and excitement in learning and discovery.
So, these are our family values. What we want to teach our children. And what's the best way to teach these? Yes, by modeling them. I best be getting to work. I certainly know I have room to grow in all of these areas.
Above all, we want to our home to be a place our children feel safe and loved. They will be loved uncondtionally and will never have to earn our love. We pray for Nolan (and our future children) daily. Our prayer is that he will come to know the unconditional love and forgiveness of our Heavenly Father and that Nolan will one day walk with Him in a personal relationship.
We start and end our day with prayer for our family and for Nolan specfically. There is no great privelege then to be able to pray for the child God has given us.
5 comments:
Amen!
Way to go girlie. I'm very proud of you and the mother and wife you've become.
Thank you for your post, its a good reminder of the things that we want and need for our family as well. keep spreading the faith!
I love that I have a friend who shares the same values. I am so excited that Liam will have a friend to grow up with who has a personal relationship with his Heavenly Father!
Hi Ann - this is Kayla, Sheriffe's girlfriend! He told me all about these 4 values he respected so much - love reading your post and seeing how you're putting them into practice in your family!
Stop by and check out my blog if you have some free time! http://hope-is-coming.blogspot.com/
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