Every Day Truths for My Son

Recently, one of the girls in my Bible study pointed me towards this blog post from Priscilla Shirer (my new fave) about the Scripturally-based statements she speaks over her boys every single morning before they leave the house. In addition to sharing her own powerful words (they are so good), she also shared a bit about her intentions to speak truth to her children and give them a clear vision of her hopes for their future in Christ.  As she said, “They might put their hands up over their ears in protest every now and then, but WHO CARES! They WILL hear you and what you are saying will nestle deep into their souls over time.”

Obviously, I’m a big believer in the power of words.  I believe that – good or bad – we internalize the messages we hear the most often in our lives, and those things become a part of our identity.  We live in a world today where, unfortunately, many of those messages tear down a lot more than they build up.  Working with teenagers especially, makes me keenly aware of the lies our kids are told (and believe) about who they are and what they were made for.

More than anything else, I want Sam to know that he belongs to God, that he is a CHILD OF PROMISE, and that God created him with a purpose for his life.  Regardless of what life throws him in the future, I know it was no accident that God gave Sam parents that love the Lord.  We are not (and will not be) perfect. We will mess up at just about every opportunity; BUT, at the end of the day, I want him to know that someone MUCH bigger than us is in control.

Here’s what I’ve written specifically for Sam. I don’t always see him before I leave for work in the morning, and memorization isn’t exactly my strength, so I’m printing it out and hanging it in his bedroom next to his bed.  Every night, after he’s been securely bathed, pajama’ed, hydrated, read to, and tucked in, I plan to read these words aloud as I rub his back … I love that these will be the last words he hears every night before he falls asleep.

Feel free to use and adapt my little statements for your own family if you want (just click the above for a printable 8×10 if you like it just the way it is.)

Have you done something like this for your kids?  If so, I’d love for you to share!  What truths do you want your children to grow up hearing every day?

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