Kristen Welch - Saying Yes to God As a Family: 30 Lessons for the Table from Rhinestone Jesus

IVE BEEN WRITING to mothers on my blog for nearly seven years, and during that time Ive discovered a community of women a lot like me: imperfect people who love their families and who sometimes feel inadequate, but long for their lives to matter. Ive fallen in love with inspiring women to say yes to God, right where they are. In my book Rhinestone Jesus, I chronicle my big yes to God these past few years as well as share my passion for connecting with our families in Gods Word around the dinner table.

When I asked the moms who read my blog if their families spent time in the Bible together, I thought I was asking a yes-or-no question. I wasnt prepared for hundreds to send me comments and questions such as I really want to but I dont know where to start. Do you have any ideas? and How do I keep my kids around the table?

Thats the reason I thought Id share why this is important to our family and how we got started, offer some suggestions that have worked for us, and provide a practical, easy approach for others to consider.

For us, it all began with a conversation in the car on the way home from church. That Sunday I asked my son, who was six at the time, what he learned in Sunday school. He tried to remember, mentioning something about a man and a boat.

Oh, was it the story of Noah? I guessed.

Who is Noah? he asked.

You know, Noah and the ark, animals two by two. I could tell by the look on his face he was absolutely clueless.

My heart pounded and I felt like such a bad mom. Because everyone knows about Noah, right?

Were there two whales in your story? Because there was only one in mine, he responded, sounding confused. It turned out he was talking about Jonah. At that moment I realized the one hour a week of Bible time my kids were getting at church wasnt cutting it for my family.

From that point on, we began to make reading the Bible together a priority in our home. Weve tried a lot of different ideas, books, versions, etc. Some have failed miserably. And others have only worked for some of the ages and phases of our children. But the most important thing is, we keep trying.

The Guinness Book of Records acknowledges the Bible as the worlds bestselling book. Most families probably have multiple copies in various translations in their homes. But many dont read it together. Why does that matter? Not only is the Bible filled with amazing stories of adventure, wild miracles, and incredible historical truth, its the only book that has the power to change the reader. Reading together will not only draw you closer as a family, it will plant seeds of truth in your lives that will blossom and grow. You are investing in your family when you read Gods Word together. And its something that God wants you to do.

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. DEUTERONOMY 6:6-7

Using these same verses, Robert Velarde pointed out in a 2009 Focus on the Family article that parents have both the responsibility and the opportunity to implement this practice at home.

In Christian homes its not so much that parents dont desire to help their children understand God and His truths; rather, its usually a matter of finding time combined with not knowing how to go about family Bible study. The time problem is symptomatic of our fast-paced culture and resulting lifestyles. We are so used to the hectic pace of our daily lives that it becomes difficult to fit one more thing into our schedules. Unfortunately, when it comes to family Bible study, it should not be viewed as one more thing but as a central focus of our devotion to God. It is a parental responsibility commanded by God, and it also provides a wonderful opportunity to help build and strengthen bonds between family members.

We cant leave our childrens Christian education solely up to the church. Its our responsibility as parents to provide spiritual guidance to the children God has given us. Not only will this habit offer them the chance to get to know the God of the Bible personally, it has the divine power to change their lives.

It is up to us to teach our kids, and its also a wonderful way to become closer. The latest statistics say approximately 50 percent of families dont eat dinner together six to seven nights a week. Its a proven fact that family dinners contribute to healthy kidsphysically and emotionally. They do better in school and life! What better way to connect as a family than while breaking bread and taking the opportunity to interact with the Bread of Life.

So how do you start? Over the years, my husband and I have learned some things that may help you.

1. Keep it regular. Choose the best time for your family when you are consistently together.
2. Keep it short. Do as much as you can, but dont feel pressure to do it all. Even if you only read two verses and answer one question during your time together, dont give up. Take up where you leave off, even if it takes four days to complete one days reading.
3. Keep everyone involved. Let older kids read. Ask the little ones questions.
4. Keep it fun. Several years ago, we painted the top of our kitchen table with chalkboard paint and started keeping chalk nearby. When we first committed to reading together at dinner, my youngest child was a toddler. She loved to color and we discovered this was a great way to keep busy hands occupied after dinner. Maybe as a family project, you could make a board game that would track with the readings. It could be used as a tool for reviewing the stories and the characters as well as specific Scripture verses. The possibilities are endless with your familys creative minds!
5. Keep a reward in mind. Think about a fun family activity to do together when youre done, like making ice cream sundaes. It doesnt have to be expensive or elaborate for your family to appreciate it.

Choose the same time each day. If you eat breakfast together every morning, this would be a great way to begin your day. Our kids go to school at different times, so dinnertime works best for us. Bedtime is another opportunity for many families, but if your childrens ages cover a wide range, it might not work. It really doesnt matter when you read the Bible together. Just get together and do it.