Fulfilled Promises
Make a promise to your children, but make them wait for the fulfillment of your promise. (Tell them one day and “fulfill” the promise on a few days later.)
Ideas for promises: I will take you to get a toy from Dollar Tree. I will take you to get ice cream. I will allow you to stay up late and play a game together on Friday night. I will take you to the park on Saturday.)
Ask (after you have fulfilled your promise):
What was the best part about the promise I made to you? (When you actually did what you promised.)
What is the best part of God’s promise to send Jesus into the world? (When He died for our sin and gives us everlasting life in Heaven.)
Just as God promised to send His Son to earth at the right time (Genesis 3:15), God promised that when He comes back for His people the second time, they will be given an eternal body that will live forever (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). What a wonderful day!
What Will It Be Like?
Gather various items that will fit inside a bag (sock; key; small stuffed animal; nail clippers; glue stick; half-eaten candy bar; the more unusual the better). While they turn their backs to you, place an item in the bag and let a child hold the bag and feel the item (but not put their hand inside or look inside the bag) to try to guess the item. After a short time, remove the item to reveal its identity. Continue adding items one at a time to the bag until everyone has a turn. Then talk about it:
Why was it hard to guess the item? (I couldn’t see it; it felt like something else; etc.)
Not seeing inside the bag made it harder to guess the item. Not seeing or knowing exactly what will happen when we die can make us feel unsure or afraid. Even though we don’t know all that will happen, all believers in Jesus can know it will be good! Because Jesus died and came to life again, we don’t have to be afraid of death. Jesus is a winner over death (1 Corinthians 15:57).
Celebrate!
Did you make any New Year’s Eve resolutions? Have you kept your resolutions this month? Talk about some fun memories from 2021 and some plans for 2022. What places would you like to visit? What new thing would you like to learn? Is there a new way you can help others?
Write your ideas down and display them on the fridge (where you will see them) Review the list occasionally (maybe the last Saturday of the month).