WHETTING THEIR APPETITES‍

I am eager for the harvest season this year. Why wait for November’s discourse on best thanksgiving meals, navigating family conversations, and the inspiration of fall colors as your kids jump into a pile of fallen leaves? No, as I journal my prayers to God, and consider all that I’m both grateful for and contending for, I’m eager to leap over October, and reap TODAY and celebrate all that God has done in this season.

How often do we as parents want mastery of skills and abilities in our kids to happen quickly, satiating our hunger for our kids to “get it” or “follow directions” or “exhibit excellence?” I’m talking to you, parent of a potty-training child, or you, mama who just scheduled her first behind-the-wheel session with her teen, or you, father of that kid who just auditioned for the fall school play. We l-o-v-e to experience the final culmination of success with our kids – the months of no accidents, the acquisition of the driver’s license, and the thunderous applause after the curtain comes down on opening night. But do we savor the flavors of growth along the way?

Or to take a step back even further…do we find joy in simply whetting our kids’ appetites for what is good, true, and beautiful in this world, not even knowing if what we are hoping for in them will come to fruition? What does that look like in your family? In my family, my calling for many years has been to spread the feast of education for each of our daughters. I would relentlessly search for the best sources for increasing our knowledge and wisdom so we all could grow into people of character. I was guided by the philosophy of Charlotte Mason, an educator who wrote this:

[I]f we are to make the most of life as the days go on, then it is a duty to put this power for getting enjoyment into the hands of the young. They must be educated up to it. ... [D]elight in a fine thought, well set, does not come by nature. (Formation of Character, p. 213)

As Brandy Vencel, one of the bloggers I read, writes, “Exposure breeds taste.” Good taste doesn’t come naturally–we have to cultivate it. So I regularly think about what I am sowing into myself and my family as our days go on, asking these questions: 

• What books should we read?
• Which movies or media should we watch?
• What art should we view?
• What varieties of music should fill our home?
• Which people should have an invitation to our family calendar?

I’ve learned to keep being intentional about answering these questions, however, what really helps decide these questions is turning to scripture:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

‍Do you find it invigorating to develop your kids’ hunger for God? The key is to have a balanced plan – eschew force feeding our kids Bible verses, but also look to serving a regular diet of godly, quality literature, media, art, and people-time along with family Bible study and prayer. Certainly do your best to avoid filling up your family’s mind on the brain “junk food” that is twaddle. Everyone will have their own defining characteristics of this – but if you don’t know what’s best, refer back to scripture.

In the Message translation, Matthew 5:6 reads: “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.”

The best meal. Wow. I can dream up some amaaaaaaaazing meals, and here Jesus is preaching that we will be filled with the best when we hunger and thirst for God. So ensure that reading the Bible and praying is simply something your family does–on the regular. Make it fun for your family. Maybe Bible study happens in your family along with dessert, which could be healthy fruit. Make it age appropriate. Short studies with littles and longer readings with older kids makes sense. Make your home a safe space to ask questions together and investigate answers.

As you each gain your own appetite for time with God, He’ll sate your hunger and slake your thirst with the living water that is Jesus. Harvesting that relationship is the most satisfying experience of your life! All the rest is just gravy.

‍

Grace and peace,

Annikki

‍

Recommended Book & Article Resources for Parents:

Books:

• The Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis –excellent way to whet the appetite for God, through story!
• Roar!: A Christian Family Guide to the Chronicles of Narnia, Kopp – good companion guide
• Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles, Tripp 

Articles:

• Youth for Christ International, specifically this article on Spiritual Hunger, Shepski
• For the Family, specifically this article on Nourishing your Children’s Souls, Schwenk

‍

What Epic Kids & PreK are learning in October:

‍