Family Night

We've been doing much better on Family Night since we have cut back on going into town every Monday. Before it was sparatic, not consistant because we would just forget sometimes, it wasn't a habit. Now, I feel like we are improving this aspect of spiritually being on track. I think we are getting better because we have done a 180 from having family night for us (Sharrid & I) to having family night for Marcelus. It is completely geared toward him and we felt that this was the time to make that change. It helps that he goes to Nursery and just the little things they do. Our Nursery is pretty good at what it should be I think, so for family night we try and do the same things basically to reiterate. Sometimes Marcelus will be moving, talking, not paying any attention when we say the prayers, we are working on getting him to do the prayer stuff (kneel, fold arms, ect.) He sometimes says he doesn't want to sing a song when we ask or he'll shout "Stop that!" when Shar and I continue to sing. He's 2. Anyway but it's getting better. Our family night consists of an opening song (usually one he knows, which leaves us with about 2 choices), a prayer (hopefully soon we can help him say his own), then we take a few pictures of Jesus from our picture set that my parents gave to me for a Christmas gift (Thank you sooooo much, they are great.) It's basically all the church pictures in a case sold where you buy your garments. We talk a little about Jesus but mainly just point to him and say his name and Marcelus copies us, then on pictures where there are more people than just Jesus, we will ask him "Where is Jesus?" and he will find Jesus and point to him. One time he pointed to a man who wore dark clothes and even had his back turned...but he got it the 2nd time around. Then we will close it up with a couple fun songs like "Wheels on the Bus" and a prayer. It seriously lasts like 10-15 minutes if that but it's perfect for him.

One thing about it is I can't wait til he's old enough to where I can teach him that he can pray anywhere, and that he doesn't need to fold his arms or close his eyes, like when he's riding his bike...or in a track meet race...or situations like that, that he can pray anytime and in a lot of different ways, in any circumstance, but little by little. We have to start with the very basics and know that we can teach them that later. I also will be happy when he's old enough to think of what Jesus might look like on his own, without a picture that depicts him one way or another. I want him to be able to imagine his own Jesus, like when you read of a character in a book. To be honest, I don't like most of the artists depictions of Christ, but it's kind of what we have to work with, especially for our kids. But, we're teaching him that way right now, and I'm sure when he's older he will picture Jesus his own way...and realize that we really don't know exactly what he looks like. We just know him on the inside...well, we hope we do anyway.