Teaching Opportunities

 Dinnertime is an excellent opportunity to talk to your children and help them adjust their recollections and thoughts of the day. Numerous times, I have heard children recount an upsetting event that happened to them at school or with a friend. I take advantage of teachable opportunities to improve their reactions and choices, and I'm always pleased to hear that many parents do the same.

Turning a problem around positively is essential so that our children's subconscious is filled with continual encouraging information rather than replaying toxic thoughts without the hope of changing them. You can help fill their souls or subconscious with good thoughts and recollections instead of dark, negative memories and issues, which may lead to failure and low self-esteem or confidence.

For instance, I once knew a girl who was "friends" with another little girl who was often unkind to her. Her parents counseled her not to pursue this playmate or argue with her about her behavior but to send her kind thoughts and play with other, more agreeable girls who readily invited her into their circle. 

The following school year, her "friend" was moved to another classroom, and the problem was resolved. She was naturally removed from this girl's environment because she didn't resist her, thought kind thoughts, and turned to other friends.

I recommended to my little friend that she send the other child kind thoughts and bless her as suggested in the bible by Jesus. Matthew 5:43-44. (But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you.)

I am a why girl. I always questioned my mother about why this was and why that was. As I have traveled through life, I have found the answer to some of my questions. Why follow Jesus's teaching in this verse? If we engage in hatred, unforgiveness, or anger with others, we open ourselves up to more of the same behavior. Remember, what we sow, we reap; like attracts like. Renewing our minds with good, positive thoughts is what we will bring to ourselves. I don't know about you, but this concept is a bolded, starred entry in my book of life and a golden nugget!

I went further with my little friend and recommended that she picture herself filled with joy, happy to be in school with many friends, favor from her teacher and others within the school, and doing excellent work. I reminded her that her thoughts are like magnets, attracting more of what she thinks. She was very excited to hear this.

Discussing difficulties at dinner and how to turn them around is an excellent teaching practice. Show your children that this is the perfect opportunity to forgive others. As they forgive others immediately, they will not open themselves up to more negative events. Again, what we sow, we reap. Jesus's teachings were not only brilliant but practical for everyday living. He's an awesome teacher.

Reference - Galatians 6:7 - (Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.) We can buck against and resist it, but God's laws do not change. We can live by this or spend a lifetime stuck in the mud of discontent, wondering why everything is so difficult.

Thanks for reading and considering this golden nugget!

Denise