There is nothing sweeter to me than family time.
We sit.
We talk.
Sometimes we sing.
Sometime we pray.
We always have plenty of say to each other.
If you’re like me, you wouldn’t trade those times for anything in the world.
Sandee and I raised our kids overseas, away from what we thought was “comfortable.” While times were sometimes tough for us, those same experiences shaped how our kids see and interact with their world.
Here’s something I’ve learned: Developing a heart for the nations in kids starts by tapping into their natural curiosity.
It’s an old teaching trick: Teach by asking questions. Questions are even more important with children. Their minds are curious to explore their world and they are looking to you.
Find out what’s important to them. Engage with them in their world. Look for world events to raise questions and awareness about other cultures. Leverage current news stories as prompts to engage their imaginations. Develop daily practices that foster thoughtful conversations.
Ask questions like:
What was the best thing that happened today?
Did anything surprise you today?
Did anything happen today that made you feel sad?
Start with the questions. Bring the conversation back to Jesus, how He sees these situations, and how others around the world experience His love for them.
Most of our kids are grown now.
We still sit.
We still talk.
We still sing and pray together.
The questions still come.
Maybe we’re just a curious bunch 🙂
This post is part of a seven-part series from Brian’s Rhodes’ book 11 Ways to Give Your Kids a Heart for the Nations. To order the full book, click here. We’ll continue to highlight Brian’s content through March as part of our 60-in-60 campaign. We hope you enjoy it!
