Coach's CornerDecember 2014
Entitlement Neutralizers
Encourage your child to think how others may feel. (This means a consistent
repetition day-after-day of pointing your child outward rather than inward.)
Encourage your child to examine their actions and attitudes in prayer. Trust God to convict them. (He is faithful.)
Share prayer requests of others with your child so they have a chance to pray about needs of others rather than just themselves. What a joy to my soul when one of my 4 yr. olds said, without pride, to another child who was several years older, “We will pray for your grandpa. We pray and God answers.”
Do the Christmas Angel tree or other such projects to allow children to give to others and allow them to experience not getting too many gifts for themselves.
I recently saw a video that told of a father who had his precious very young children bring some of their toys to give to others. When the children brought their ragged toys, he made them take those back and give their new, best toys. He helped them with their attitudes over this so that it didn' t turn into anger and bitterness. By doing this, he helped them learn to give only their best to Jesus. What a lesson! What rewards these children will have waiting for them in Heaven! Remember, tiny steps — don' t overdo — we don't want our children to turn away from God by forcing this kind of giving. God loves a cheerful giver.
A simple prayer before each meal, helps our children gain a deep understanding that God is not required to give us food. He chooses to take care of us because He gave us His word that He would, not because we “deserve it” and certainly not because we can force Him to.
Hmmm….a hard one for some: tithe and teach your children to tithe. Don't expect them to do what you are not willing to do. Recognize that it is a commandment. Train them early and it will not be so hard for them to obey God. Again, it will lay up for them treasures of rewards in Heaven
Find a missionary or mission cause that they can give a small offering to. Many children are blessed by parent that help them make a lemonade stand and they give all their proceeds to that cause.