When Your Children Ask You . . .
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Children are full of questions! God wants us to especially welcome our children’s questions about our faith. In fact, God instructs His people to establish traditions and build monuments so that future generations will be prompted to ask these important questions.
After Moses received the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments:
“In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.” ”
After Joshua and the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River and God had them build a stone monument on the banks of the river:
“In the future, when your children ask you, “What do these stones mean?” tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
Even in the present day, during the Passover dinner each year, Jewish families around the world have their children ask scripted questions so the parents can provide answers that explain “why is this night different from every other night?”
As we enter this month of May with Memorial Day and its focus on “remembering,” we can be intentional about establishing family traditions that will invite questions from our children and help them remember God’s faithfulness.
We probably don’t have room in our homes for a stone monument or a pile of rocks, but what are modern day equivalents that we can use to invite questions from our children?
Family Photos: Pull out photo albums or look at pictures on your phone and reminisce with your children about the day they were born, your wedding day, or other milestone events.
Movie Nights: Set aside a night each week to watch a movie as a family. You can choose a movie that communicates a desired message, or watch home movies that will remind them of their younger years—or their parents’ younger years!
Story Telling: Think about one or more pivotal moments in your life and share those stories with your children at bedtime. “Instead of reading a book tonight, I’m going to tell you about my very first car.” Or, “Have I ever told you about the time God protected me during a bad storm?”
Jar of Questions: Jot down questions on slips of paper and put them in a jar. Children can take turns choosing a question to ask parents at dinner time. Include questions that can spark meaningful conversation, such as, “When was a time that you were really scared?” or “Did you ever fail a test in school?”
Ask Grandma and Grandpa: Encourage your children to ask their grandparents or other extended family members about your family history. “What was mommy like when she was my age?” or “Did you like going to school when you were a child?”
Children’s questions open the door to meaningful and memorable conversations. Their questions are valuable invitations to offer focused attention, instill truth, and create a love of learning in your children. Keep ‘em coming!