How can you help your children feel hopeful about the future amid pandemic fears, divisive political hostility, and heart-hammering news reports? Romans 12:12 offers three habits that will help you maintain that hope: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Providing a good example of joy, patience, and faithfulness is the first hope-builder for your children because they take their cue from you.
Also, giving your children something to look forward to keeps them at peace in the moment and looking toward the future. Do this by instituting a weekly “Family-Fun,” time. Despite current restrictions and no matter how old or young your kids might be, try this brainstorm-blast every quarter. Get creative. It works like this:
A. Prior to your “blast,” download a list of fun things permitted, available in your area, in-budget, and post it on the fridge.
B. Meet, and encourage everyone to discuss their favorite things to do for your weekly “Family-Fun” time. Ideas will come from the list, and the children can come up with some on their own.
C. Write all suggestions on dry erase, poster, chart paper, or printer paper.
D. Now, give every child (or every family member…your choice) a different colored marker or let each choose a different method of selecting their favorites (underline, circle, box, squiggles).
E. Each person chooses as many “favorites” as s/he likes by circling (with his/her unique color) or by using his/her unique shape (circle, square, underline, box etc).
F. Together, you will review the completed brainstorm plot. Some activities will have zero or one circle and other activities will be circled by everyone.
G. The “fun things” that everyone likes will be evident because THEY will be circled by everyone – notice all of the colors or shapes surrounding them. These will be the first choices to put on the weekly “Family-Fun” time calendar. Work down from there, adding to the calendar for the whole quarter.
Making a game out of finding enjoyable things to do generates hope for tomorrow.
Patience amid chaos? Children struggle with patience just as you do. Sharing the truth with your children about what irritates you, and offering them a safe space to talk about their fears and frustrations builds patience and trust. You might share with them some relaxation techniques, and practice together. Practicing these techniques ensures that you and your children will be able to relax when you find yourself in a situation where you NEED to relax.
Finally, knowing that God has you in His arms gives you hope that your future is safeguarded. Remain faithful by creating a faith fortress. Pray with your children in the morning, building a foundation to their fortress. Draw near to God in the afternoon, establishing the walls; recall three blessings each evening to top off that fortress.
You can help your children and yourself to feel hopeful about the future through Romans 12:12. Start a habit of joy in hope, patience in affliction, and faithfulness in prayer. It’s a good habit that will not only draw you and your children near to God but also keep all of you hopeful and at peace in troubled times and any time.
