Young Family
Pray It!
As we focus on being households of peace, make time for silence as a means of achieving peace.
Take a moment of silence with your kids by Cathy
For most families, there is no such thing as a 10-minute pocket of silence during the day. Yet our faith tradition and science are coming together to agree that a time of sitting without thoughts—call it centering prayer, meditation, or strong sitting—is beneficial to both children and adults. Several studies have found meditation to reduce anxiety levels, improve self-awareness and self-control, and improve attention skills. The Bible says it like this: “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10).
One method of many:
• Have each child sit cross-legged on a pillow facing a wall in a room, with eyes open and mouth closed.
• Gently explain that they should pick one sacred word—love, God, peace, Christ—and should let all thoughts flow out of their mind.
• Set the timer for one minute per year of the child’s age (or the average if you have several children).
• Approach centering prayer as a gift even if children don’t look forward to it—compliment them for any success they have in sitting quietly.
By Annemarie Scobey, from the pages of At Home with Our Faith, Claretian Publications’ print newsletter for parents on nurturing spirituality in the home. Winner of the Best in Class award in 2014 from the Associated Church Press, as well as a First Place General Excellence award from the Catholic Press Association for four years running.
Read It!
Bullies have been around for a long time. In this activity we'll read a story about a bully in the Bible, and think about why that person might have bullied others. Then we'll have the option to think about the effects of bullying, or to create an anti-bullying superhero.
- Begin with a prayer. You may use the words here, or use whatever words are in your own heart.
- Loving God, you created us to take care of one another. Help us to put an end to bullying and to live in your loving care. This we pray in the name of Jesus, who knows what it feels like to be bullied by others. Amen.
- Read the Bible story, A Bully in the Bible.
- After reading the Bible story, spend time thinking about one or more of these questions. You might think about them on your own, or talk about them with a friend or parent.
- I wonder why Zacchaeus bullied people? I wonder how he felt when he bullied them? I wonder how the people felt when they were bullied?
- I wonder if you have ever been bullied or seen someone be bullied? (Here is one definition for bullying: "Bullying is hurting someone on purpose, either with words or actions.")
- I wonder if you've ever bullied someone?
- I wonder why Zacchaeus was so eager to see Jesus?
- I wonder why Jesus treated Zacchaeus the way he did?
- Choose one or both of the following activities. You may do the activities on your own, or with a friend or parent.
- The Scars of Bullying. Find an unused sheet of paper, without any creases in it. Next, crumple it up as tightly as you can. Throw it across the room if you'd like! Then stomp on it. Stomp on it with all your might! Really mess up that crumpled ball of paper, but be careful not to rip it. Now, pick up that paper. Unfold it and smooth it out.
- Your challenge: try to make the paper look like it did before.
- Hmmm. If you say "I'm sorry" to the paper over and over again, does that make the creases go away?
- Let's imagine that the piece of paper is a person who has been bullied. When a person has been bullied, they carry the scars of that pain for a long, long time.
- On your crumpled paper, write a prayer to Jesus. You might use these words, or create your own:
- Jesus, you were bullied by people who did not understand you. Help me to stand up for those who are bullied. Help me not to bully others. You loved Zacchaeus. You love each of us. Help us to live as your children. Amen.
- Perhaps you will want to put your paper in a place where you can look at it sometimes.
- Create an anti-bullying superhero. You may draw your superhero on paper, or use playdough or clay to make a 3-D superhero.
- Begin by creating the body. (If you are drawing, a stick figure is fine.)
- Now comes the fun! Think about all the different parts you want your superhero to have. Perhaps a cloak? A shield? A mask, boots, belt? Here's the key: every part of your superhero's costume should give him/her power to combat bullying.
- For example, maybe you want to give your superhero . . .
- a cloak that lets them fly away quickly from bullies
- a powerful tongue that lets him/her disarm a bully with humor
- a shield for protection
- Boots to jump large distances to get help when someone is being bullied
- special gloves that extend kindness.
- Be sure to give your superhero a name. Have a great time!
Copyright Vibrant Faith@Home - all rights reserved
- Loving God, you created us to take care of one another. Help us to put an end to bullying and to live in your loving care. This we pray in the name of Jesus, who knows what it feels like to be bullied by others. Amen.
- I wonder why Zacchaeus bullied people? I wonder how he felt when he bullied them? I wonder how the people felt when they were bullied?
- I wonder if you have ever been bullied or seen someone be bullied? (Here is one definition for bullying: "Bullying is hurting someone on purpose, either with words or actions.")
- I wonder if you've ever bullied someone?
- I wonder why Zacchaeus was so eager to see Jesus?
- I wonder why Jesus treated Zacchaeus the way he did?
- The Scars of Bullying. Find an unused sheet of paper, without any creases in it. Next, crumple it up as tightly as you can. Throw it across the room if you'd like! Then stomp on it. Stomp on it with all your might! Really mess up that crumpled ball of paper, but be careful not to rip it. Now, pick up that paper. Unfold it and smooth it out.
- Your challenge: try to make the paper look like it did before.
- Hmmm. If you say "I'm sorry" to the paper over and over again, does that make the creases go away?
- Let's imagine that the piece of paper is a person who has been bullied. When a person has been bullied, they carry the scars of that pain for a long, long time.
- On your crumpled paper, write a prayer to Jesus. You might use these words, or create your own:
- Jesus, you were bullied by people who did not understand you. Help me to stand up for those who are bullied. Help me not to bully others. You loved Zacchaeus. You love each of us. Help us to live as your children. Amen.
- Perhaps you will want to put your paper in a place where you can look at it sometimes.
- Create an anti-bullying superhero. You may draw your superhero on paper, or use playdough or clay to make a 3-D superhero.
- Begin by creating the body. (If you are drawing, a stick figure is fine.)
- Now comes the fun! Think about all the different parts you want your superhero to have. Perhaps a cloak? A shield? A mask, boots, belt? Here's the key: every part of your superhero's costume should give him/her power to combat bullying.
- For example, maybe you want to give your superhero . . .
- a cloak that lets them fly away quickly from bullies
- a powerful tongue that lets him/her disarm a bully with humor
- a shield for protection
- Boots to jump large distances to get help when someone is being bullied
- special gloves that extend kindness.
- Be sure to give your superhero a name. Have a great time!
Share It!
October is the month of the rosary, a month designated as a time to pray the rosary.
Here is a power point from author Joe Paprocki with great information on how to pray the rosary.
Do It!
By Amber Espinosa
Because we're all unique, we don't always agree. The people we love most and with whom we spend the most time, are, unfortunately, also the ones with whom we argue the most. If you've had a big fight with someone, these ideas can help.
- Sit down together and read these verses. Then, use the process below to help work out the problem.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4
- 1. "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant."
- Matthew 5:43-44
- 2. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'"
- Remember, that God loves all people, and wants us to show love to one another. Here's a process to help you work out the problem.
- Pick a grown-up to help.
- When everyone is calm, sit down together in a quiet place.
- Have each person tell their side of the story, with no interruptions.
- Change roles. Be sure you can explain how the other person feels, even if you don't agree.
- Brainstorm at least three ways to solve the problem.
- Choose a solution that both people can agree to.
- Pray together. During the prayer, each person should thank God for something special about the other. For example, I might say, Thank you God for my friend Zach, especially because he always makes me laugh.
- Loving God,Thank you for each person here.Thank you especially for _____________, especially because____________________.
- Thank you especially for ____________, especially because_____________________.Help us to feel your love, and to share your love with each other. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Copyright Vibrant Faith@Home - all rights reserved
- 1 Corinthians 13:4
- 1. "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant."
- Matthew 5:43-44
- 2. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'"
- Pick a grown-up to help.
- When everyone is calm, sit down together in a quiet place.
- Have each person tell their side of the story, with no interruptions.
- Change roles. Be sure you can explain how the other person feels, even if you don't agree.
- Brainstorm at least three ways to solve the problem.
- Choose a solution that both people can agree to.