We hear it all the time this time of year.

“What did you give up for Lent?”

“I’m giving up bread.”

“I’m going to try to cut out soda.”

The list goes on and on. Whether or not you actively participate in Lent, the basics are truly admirable. This time of year is about making a conscious effort to eliminate habits in your life that keep you from God, and reflecting on the ways you may have been putting your faith on the back burner. While it’s great to cut unhealthy foods from your diet during Lent, let’s not forget the more important habits we should be cutting from our lives – skipping prayer time, gossiping, being unkind to one another, and more.

This Lenten season, we should all do a little digging to uncover what we each need to work on in order to allow for a beautiful, thriving relationship with God. Ultimately we must teach our children that Lent is not only about giving something up, but also about giving of themselves to God in ways that they believe they can. As we continue through this season of Lent, it is important to remember the sacrifice God made for us through Jesus Christ, and that He did it out of love for us. Lent is a beautiful time to make such sacrifices of love – for God, for our well being, and for others – that will help build our relationship with Him and will allow us to share God’s love with others.

The most important relationships we have in our lives are those with our families and with God. As Christian parents, one of our greatest priorities should be helping our children build a strong, lasting relationship with God. This can be a challenge when dealing with little ones, however, there are a few things that we can do to help point our kids in the right direction.

• Talk About God

Planting the seed from the beginning can help children grow in their faith as they get older. Start simply, by explaining to your little ones how God created the tree and sun in your yard. As they grow up and can understand grander concepts, the conversations about their faith will follow suit. Taking every opportunity to talk to your children about God will make the conversation natural and commonplace.

• Pray

Pray as much as possible. If your children see you doing it at an early age, they will learn that it is important. Have prayer time before meals, at bedtime, and when waking up for school. Nothing is too small to pray for in a child’s eyes.  Learning how to pray on their own can help them in building a personal relationship with God.  In addition, make sure not to just pray for things you need – say prayers of gratitude as well. Teaching your children about the power of prayer can help them create a daily prayer routine.

• Small Acts of Kindness

Add small, random acts of kindness to your daily routine. These acts can be planned to teach your children a lesson about the importance of modeling their life after Jesus, or spontaneous to show them that sharing God’s love should be given without thinking twice. Anything as small as a “thank you” card to a hard working teacher, or calling a sick relative to wish them a speedy recovery can be an opportunity to teach your children an important lesson in God’s love.

Teaching our children about God is one of the most rewarding and important tasks. While we all have different methods, and there are thousands of roads to create a successful relationship between you, your child, and God, remember that by helping them, you are also helping to strengthen your own personal relationship with Him. Teaching our children is a responsibility, and by doing it correctly, we can build something with and for them that will last for eternity.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, the true meaning of love can get lost underneath the candy, gifts, and giant stuffed animals. Today’s youth may view love as something to be bought and wrapped. In reality, love is beyond a price. As parents, it’s our responsibility to teach our children about the true meaning of love in ways that can be applied in their lives today and for years to come. If we can demonstrate to our children what love truly means, we can rest a little easier knowing that they have an example to follow when they get older.

• Love is growing in your faith. Romantic love, the bond between siblings, and friendship are all beautiful examples of love. We must always keep in mind, however, that the love we receive from God is the most beautiful and important of all.  Pray as a family with your children, go to church together, and make sure they say a prayer before bed time.
• Teach Them to Think of Others. Always strive to be examples of kindness for your children. Love isn’t selfish – show them to be courteous of other’s feelings. Let your children know to be cautious with their choice of words. We should all try our best to make people feel good and happy, whether to strangers or our own spouses.
• Random Acts of Kindness. Whether it is helping grandma carry in the groceries or volunteering to clean up the table after dinner, encouraging your children to display acts of kindness is essential to building good character and demonstrating the true meaning of love. Gifts and balloons are thoughtful expressions of love, but in the long run, the day-to-day acts of service we do for one another are what truly display love.

Consider this Bible verse:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV).  

Happy Valentine's Day!

With February being American Heart Month, there is an extra emphasis on the importance of taking care of your health—specifically your heart. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year. With this rate increasing every year, it is a deep concern that affects our families and loved ones. This prompts us to live healthier lives by changing our eating and physical habits. You are never too young or too old to start taking care of your heart!
Along with healthier eating, physical activity is sometimes the hardest task to commit to. After a long day of work, it can be hard to slink off of that couch and find the energy—which isn’t within the crevices of the couch. Here are some tips on how to physically reduce your risk of heart disease and keep your heart rate up!

• Start a Schedule. The good news about exercise is that it is just as flexible as you are. If you are not an early riser—don’t fret, plan your physical activity for the afternoon or evening. The key is to be consistent with your exercise routine so your body can adjust to the change of pace.
• Choose Cardio. Any physical activity that increases the work of the heart and lungs is considered cardiovascular exercise. Everyone has a different fitness level, so choose the type of activity that suits you, such as walking, jogging, or running.
• Bring the Kiddos. Just like our own health, the health of our children is important to us as well. With the rise of technology, more children prefer staying indoors. Try breaking them away from those TV or computer screens and take them outside. If the weather permits, take them on a walk to the nearest park. Engaging our children in physical activity helps to instill good lifestyle habits.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, be sure to give your heart just as move love as you plan on giving your loved ones!