forming habits young

I have to brag a bit.  I am so proud of my 2 big boys, and my hubby too. 

I challenged them at the beginning of this year to read through the Bible, daily,with me.  I printed out copies of the plan that Michael at Manna church put out again this year.  So each person has their own schedule to keep up with.

 

 

I am just so excited that when I get up each morning between 6:00 and 6:30 and trek out sleepily to the kitchen to put on some water for tea, and sit down with my Bible and schedule for the year – that I am alone for only about 5 minutes.  Invariably, a little boy, an 8 year old one, shows up asking if he can come out and read with me.

Now, I must admit that the boys are not reading the OT part – they are reading the Psalm, Proverbs, and NT parts – we listen to the OT parts together.  Including the little ones – this is our Bible time as a family.  Robert and I are reading the OT parts too – just an exception for the boys as they are young.  Also, can I just say that the statistics are so low of people that have read through the Bible in a year.  So, do you think God cares if they listen to the OT part?  I don’t!

 

 

The best part of this reading with my young boy, is that every morning he asks where I am in my reading (I admit I am trying to get ahead, because I always get behind and never catch up) – then he quickly informs me he is about 3 weeks ahead of me!  Honestly!  This is not my driven kid, he is not the one that does everything perfect – he is my dawdler.  He is my butterfly chaser.  And yet, he is ROCKING this Bible reading!! I love it!

So, along with reading the Bible, I am memorizing Colossians this year too – 2 verses a week – and man!  That is work!  But so far it is so fun!  Kristen and I are keeping each other accountable and calling to check in – which is always fun!

 

Today though, I got onto this Scripture Memory site and actually spent some time playing.  It is a great site and I think it is going to help me memorize these verses faster and thoroughly – and gives me a tool to review the past ones!  I love it!  I even checked off a few that I already knew!  It is great!  Kind of challenges me – but has the reward effect too!!  So try it out!

 

One more thing we are doing, is a gratitude journal – each month Ann offers a free downloadable template to use to list your 1000 things you are grateful for.  This month, I printed out 3 copies and I gave J and P each their own copy to put with their Bible reading plan, and to keep in their Bibles.  Each morning after they do their reading, check it off, then list out a few things they are thankful for! 

 

{click to download and print on Ann’s Blog}

 

Can you imagine how these young men can be impacted by learning to count items of gratitude each  morning.  Can you imagine the men these boys are going to grow into reading their Bible each morning and listing out what they are thankful for?  This is serious habit forming!  It just blows me away.  I am excited to see how God uses these little heart – and to see how these habits change who they are!