Today, as a mom, you will have dozens of little teachable moments with your child.
They are short snippets of time that come and go with us scarcely noticing.
A teachable moment is simply an opportunity for sincere word of encouragement, a nugget of wisdom or living in the transparency of asking forgiveness when you mess up as a parent.
These opportunities are abundant for eyes that are looking and waiting for them. Grab some of them and shape a character today.
An intentional mother or father can weave edifying conversation into daily life to help her young children recognize a biblical or practical life principle and connect it with what is happening right now in their world.
Without being preachy, teach some small principle you have read or been pondering lately.
Do so while you walk, drive, eat, sit, or play, and encourage their questions and asking questions.
You never know when God will give you an life-changing opportunity to imprint His values on your children.
Those Little Teachable Moments
Here’s an example.
A dad and his 3 children went to the hardware store to get material to build a small doghouse and found a billfold in the parking lot. The billfold had money in it but no identification.
The father took it to the store manager, saying, “In case someone comes looking for a wallet, here it is.”
His children witnessed the event, and the father could have left the matter there but chose to talk about it instead.
Over dinner later that evening, they discussed the virtue of honesty and why the father turned in the money instead of keeping it. He wasn’t trying to impress them with his virtue; he was impressing on them biblical truths. Perhaps they would have learned the lesson just by watching, but he couldn’t be sure without asking them what they were thinking.
The father wasn’t preaching.
No one got a lecture; no one left feeling inadequate, overwhelmed or bored.
It took only a couple of minutes to make the point: “Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
~Deuteronomy 6: 6-7
Be Willing To Confess Mistakes
Even though I was committed to do everything right as a parent, I failed. As hard as I tried, I didn’t give them the perfect world I wanted to provide.
I found over and over I had to confess I was wrong about something or had a bad attitude.
It was very humbling, but I knew I needed to model it if our children were to learn it. By admitting our need for forgiveness when we sin, it helps our children to do the same when they sin.
That’s authentic living.
A parent who is unwilling to admit her own failures builds a thick, terrible wall of hypocrisy before their child.
It will inevitably lead to that child’s being unwilling to be transparent with us when they fail as they get older, and we will not have a remedy except by the grace and mercy of God.
Teachable Moments Through the Sins of our Past
Using the sins of our past can be a way to teach about the curse of sin. We can consider this with discretion and prayer (and age appropriateness).
When the time is right, explain how you learned the hard way.
Tell them about how that sin has haunted you.
Get them to understand that doing the things you did has left scars, and wounds that may never completely heal…but how God is greater.
If it is a serious failure – like my abortion (of their baby brother or sister) – you may strengthen your children to refuse future temptation in their lives.
Don’t try and hide it. That may give them fuel to use it against you later in life if they do discover it on their own.
Bedtime Is Primetime
Our children would often want to talk when we would tuck them in at night and pray together. By just listening and being close, even though we were tired, we connected with their hearts and they with ours.
I tried to make mental notes of misinformation or a concern they had.
Sometimes it was small enough to be worked through right then and prayed over, but other times, it needed to wait until they (and I) were more rested.
Often my perspective was healthier in the morning after a good nights sleep.
In later years when the size of our children’s challenges centered more on personal development and others outside the family, I continued listening.
Some of our best talks/listening were late into the evening.
Only if I received what they had to say calmly without rushing to conclusions, or getting angry, would they continue to want to talk.
I had to grow in my reliance on the Lord because my own answers alone were never enough.
I needed to stay in the Word so I could have direction when those teachable moments or questions came.
More of Jesus and less of me!
Perfect Children?
Capturing teachable moments is not a formula to producing perfect children.
In the job I am willing to die for – the job I want most to do well (second only to my marriage) – I am still learning that there is a huge difference between parenting children with formulas vs trusting Christ to show you how to teach your children.
Dear Mama, trusting the Lord is everything. In those teachable moments, let your children know the best place to take a problem is to their heavenly Father.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.…” ~Proverbs 3: 5-6
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Susan
Yes, you do have to be careful and use wisdom when teaching your children using something from your past. I always told my children that a smart person learns from their own mistakes, but a wise person learns from the mistakes of others.
Jacqueline
Oh, that is SO good! I will remember that. Thank you.
Yes, Susan, I am a bit hesitant to tell others to tell their children about the mistakes in their past. It was so terrible to have to talk about them in my/our past, and it was SO delicate. Only by the grace of God and much prayer!
Blessings 🙂
Alice Childers
Enjoyed very much reading this what an encouragement and great reminder!
Thank you!
Our daughter Patti enjoyed so much getting to visiting with you the other night
at Rebecca and John Paul’s birthday party!! 🙂
Jacqueline
Alice, thank you for your kind words. We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Patty better. She is a dear and so pleasant to be around. I hope we can see more of her some how. I’ll try to friend you on FB 🙂
Blessings!
JES
Thank you for sharing your experiences and encouragement. Raising children is the probably the hardest thing I have ever done. You love them so much. You want the best for them yet… they will most likely fall and need picking up and will have to hurt and heal just like the rest of us and it is very hard to watch… I hold on to the promise of James 1:5 with all my heart:
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Jacqueline
JES,
I need so much wisdom right now for major difficult decisions. This is just what I need to see once again. I love you in the Lord, sister! Thank you!
Charlotte Moore
Oh my, so very true. GOD BLESS!!!!
Jacqueline
Hello, Charlotte,
This has been one hard day. Please pray for me. Thanks!
Jedidja
So beautiful written. Thanks!
Jacqueline
Thank you, Jedidja!
Toni
Oh my, I know I missed a lot of those moments, too, but I’m thankful for the ones I didn’t miss. Thank the Lord for taking up the slack where we fail. Great encouragement for mothers, Jacqueline.
I know you and your husband have a heart for helping others, and I want you to know it’s most appreciated. Hope you are doing well. Keeping you in my prayers today. 🙂
Love ya!
Toni
Robin
I agree we have to let our children know that we have made mistakes and the we have learned the errors in our way. I also think we need to teach them the act of forgiveness, and letting go of ours and others past mistakes. God forgives and so should we.
Adoring Family
Thank you for this encouragement. This is a beautiful post and exactly what I needed today! I do pray the Lord will give me wisdom when the time comes and I must explain why I do not want my children to learn the hard way as I…
Blessings 🙂
Terri Presser
Thank you so much for sharing this very thought provoking post at Good Morning Mondays. Also thank you for the encouragement to see the little teachable moments that happen everyday. We especially like the Duet. scripture. Blessings
Chris Malkemes
I loved this post. You are real and spot on! thank you. I am so glad I found you. What awesome photo too. Blessings ~ Chris
Jacqueline
Thanks, Chris!
That makes me smile 🙂 You are so kind, new friend <3