T ♡ I ♡ M ♡ E ♡
Not going to lie, this was the strangest week. For some reason it wouldn't end, it just keep going and going and going... That isn't to say it was a bad week, it simply seemed to drag on (like this introduction); and I think that had a major effect on our lessons.
Some of the objects that we hung on our holiday wall this week include: mittens (Matthew and Luke); sweater (the atonement of Jesus Christ); clock (God's timing), hat (Christ's mission); and a tree (family history). It seems like a hodge-podgy week upon reflection, but I think it has inspired me for coming weeks and some adjustments that I can make. More on that later though; for now, let me share with you a few experiences from this past week.
We kicked off our week discussing "Heavenly Father provided a Savior so I can return to His presence." We used the symbol of a candle, read Doctrine and Covenants 93:8-9, and discussed what "the Word" and "light and Redeemer of the world" really means. Shawn and I had a great conversation, and Michael had a lot of fun helping hang the candle on the wall, but it was fairly short and to the point (which some nights are).
On the flip side, Tuesday night we had a really fun lesson. I made a family tree (similar to the one shown here) and we used this in discussing the genealogy of Jesus. We read Matthew 1:1-17—in which we did skip a few verses since Michael was getting antsy—but we used this as a segue into discussing our personal genealogies and where we each come from. It was a lot of fun to see that it isn't just Jesus that comes from a really cool line of people, but that we do, too! We mostly talked about Michael's name (where it came from, who he is named after, showed a few pictures since he loves that sort of thing); but we were then able to talk about his family tree and tie that into Jesus' lineage in Matthew 1. It was the coolest thing to watch Michael's eyes light up and the wheels turning in his mind as he was processing everything. Shawn even commented afterwards that doing that activity"made it more interesting, relatable, and not something to just skim through (meaning reading Jesus' genealogy)." That comment felt really good and made me want to work harder on making these lessons and discussions more meaningful and personal.
Another positive lesson we had was when we discussed Mary's willingness to submit to God's will (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38). This was another one where Shawn and I had good conversation, but for some reason this felt more meaningful and applicable (maybe considering current life discussions). Using the "Come, Follow Me - For Individuals and Families" manual, we compared the angel's words to Mary and what the message is for us, followed by Mary's reactions and what the message is for us. We were touched by Mary's faith; she was willing to faithfully submit to the Lord's will for her despite the ramifications it would bring. I think because of the humbling verses and enlightening conversation, the mood changed, Michael calmed down a bit, sat with us, and we were able to include him in the conversation - teaching him about God's will, the importance of faith, and (like Joseph) withholding judgment and loving no matter what.
Personal notes for future lessons:
➸Time. I need to be spending more time preparing and studying. When I take proper time, I think we can get more out of our nightly discussions, individually as well as as a family.
➸Activities. If I'm being completely honest with myself, planning an activity AND a lesson every night is not likely. But I CAN do better with some sort of activity (like the family history tree); or at least something that better involves everyone.
This week's topics (Jan. 14-20):
Some of the objects that we hung on our holiday wall this week include: mittens (Matthew and Luke); sweater (the atonement of Jesus Christ); clock (God's timing), hat (Christ's mission); and a tree (family history). It seems like a hodge-podgy week upon reflection, but I think it has inspired me for coming weeks and some adjustments that I can make. More on that later though; for now, let me share with you a few experiences from this past week.
We kicked off our week discussing "Heavenly Father provided a Savior so I can return to His presence." We used the symbol of a candle, read Doctrine and Covenants 93:8-9, and discussed what "the Word" and "light and Redeemer of the world" really means. Shawn and I had a great conversation, and Michael had a lot of fun helping hang the candle on the wall, but it was fairly short and to the point (which some nights are).
On the flip side, Tuesday night we had a really fun lesson. I made a family tree (similar to the one shown here) and we used this in discussing the genealogy of Jesus. We read Matthew 1:1-17—in which we did skip a few verses since Michael was getting antsy—but we used this as a segue into discussing our personal genealogies and where we each come from. It was a lot of fun to see that it isn't just Jesus that comes from a really cool line of people, but that we do, too! We mostly talked about Michael's name (where it came from, who he is named after, showed a few pictures since he loves that sort of thing); but we were then able to talk about his family tree and tie that into Jesus' lineage in Matthew 1. It was the coolest thing to watch Michael's eyes light up and the wheels turning in his mind as he was processing everything. Shawn even commented afterwards that doing that activity"made it more interesting, relatable, and not something to just skim through (meaning reading Jesus' genealogy)." That comment felt really good and made me want to work harder on making these lessons and discussions more meaningful and personal.
Personal notes for future lessons:➸Time. I need to be spending more time preparing and studying. When I take proper time, I think we can get more out of our nightly discussions, individually as well as as a family.
➸Activities. If I'm being completely honest with myself, planning an activity AND a lesson every night is not likely. But I CAN do better with some sort of activity (like the family history tree); or at least something that better involves everyone.
This week's topics (Jan. 14-20):
Come, Follow Me: Luke 2; Matthew 2: We Have Come to Worship Him
Weekly Primary Topic: Jesus Christ is the perfect example for me to follow
Weekly Challenge: Each day this week, find a way to be a good example.
Weekly Challenge: Each day this week, find a way to be a good example.
Again, I'd love to hear from you. Please leave a comment as to how your week went, what you're looking forward to, or even a question you may have.
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