I remember being a full-time working mom while raising our children. Some of the best memories I have come from putting the kids to bed and sharing stories, laughter, and tickles. Other times, I rushed my kids to bed because I was exhausted from working and picking up toys after dinner. I wanted rest! Now that I’m on the other side of parenting, as a grandma, I tell you, don’t rush bedtime with your children. Those are the best opportunities you have to instill your love, your culture, and your faith in their hearts.
Don’t rush bedtime with your children or grandchildren.
Plan to take a longer time to “put them to bed.” Instead of the “hurry up and get in bed,” say “let’s hurry up so we can tell stories, read books, and pray together.” My husband and I have been watching our two grandsons one day a week (sometimes more) since the Pandemic. Our first grandson was only one year old. We have kept the tradition and now we all look forward to spending 26 hours together each week. They arrive on Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. and are picked up on Wednesday at around 8 p.m. ready for bed. Now that Henry is in second grade, we drop him off at school and pick him up as soon as school is over.
So, Tuesday nights are my nights to give them a bath and get them ready for bed. Sometimes grandpa reads them a book or tells them stories. But most of the other nights, I get in bed with the two of them in Henry’s Queen-size bed. And we start the party! We read one book of their choice; we sing songs to Jesus; or one of them reads the Lord’s Prayer. I also wrote a beautiful prayer that the Lord gave me for each of them. I printed them in big letters for them to read their own. One day I recorded them reading it, so we never forget.
Be ready to answer questions about your Christian faith.
The other day, Henry, who is seven years old and in second grade, shared that he learned about another religion at school. In my opinion, I think children at that age are not mature enough to understand the different religions. They don’t even know what the word “religion” means and they’re not strong enough in their faith to defend it. They can get easily confused.
That night, he shared that in the religion he learned about people pray to multiple gods. He then asked me, “No one knows what the truth is, right Mimi?” I was shocked that they would sow the seed of doubt at school. I firmly responded, “We absolutely know what is the truth and who is the truth! It’s all in the Bible?” I proceeded to tell him that our religion is Christianity. Then Owen (five years old) asked, “What is religion?” I explained religion is what you believe in. Then he asked, “what is Christianity?” I explained that we follow Jesus Christ and that’s where the word “Christianity” comes from. Then Henry asked, “who wrote the Bible?” I responded that God’s Holy Spirit inspired many people through hundreds of years. And Jesus is the only one who fulfilled all the promises in the Bible.
Tell them the “why” you believe.
I further explained that we don’t pray to multiple gods. We pray to the only One God, the creator of heaven and earth and the One who created each person. We don’t pray to dead gods who died a long time ago or to things that can’t respond to you when you talk to them. We pray to a living God the Father and His Son Jesus who died for us and rose again so we could live forever with Him in heaven. We have the Holy Spirit in our hearts so we can communicate to God and to Jesus.
They were both intensely listening and understanding every word I was saying. I spoke with certainty, authority, and faith because there is no doubt in my mind or heart about the true God. They believed because they trust me. They believed because they have the faith of a child. I told them what Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can go to the Father except through me.” This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible and one that I tell myself often.
I then prayed for each of them and asked the Lord to bless them and to protect their minds and hearts. I prayed that they know the truth. I asked God to give me the opportunity to share this verse with them in the morning so they can read it themselves.
The truth – the punchline of the story!
The morning came and they were both downstairs on the couch when I came down with my Bible. I said, “Henry, I have the verse from the Bible that confirms what I told you last night.” Henry said, “I already know Mimi…” I said, “what do you know?” He responded, “I asked God last night when I went to sleep to tell me what is the truth.” I asked in anticipation, “what did God tell you?” Henry said firmly, “Jesus!”
There it is, God the Father speaking to a seven-year-old child directly through His Holy Spirit. One word, the truth – Jesus! I was so happy and even got emotional when I heard him telling me this story. What a wonderful gift it is to know the truth and to have a relationship with God and Jesus.
It’s Christmas season!
So, this Christmas season, teach your children about Jesus and why He came to this world to save us. Don’t rush bedtime with your children. They need that bonding time with you. Do it no matter how tired you feel. You are sowing seeds of love, hope, and truth in their hearts. If you are a grandparent, volunteer to have your grandchildren overnight. Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to educate them in your Christian faith.
I leave you with two amazing scriptures to encourage you.
Psalm 116:1-2 I love the Lord because he hears and answers my prayers. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath! Our God is the only God in the universe that “listens and answers” our prayers because He is a living God. It’s a relationship not a religion.
Psalm, 116: 6 The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and then he save me. Ask God to give you faith like a child. Believe in Him because He is real.
I wish you a Merry Christmas knowing that it’s not just a tradition we celebrate. We are celebrating the birth of our Savior who came to earth as a little baby and in the humblest of ways. But also knowing that He is alive in heaven and loves you so much today and for eternity.
Merry Christmas!