During your bedtime routine, invite your children into a time of reflection about their day, maybe by saying, "Did you know that God really wants to know what happened in your day today, and that God is always listening whenever you need to tell God something?" Then continue with these questions:
1) What are some things that happened today that you want to tell God about?
2) What is one happy thing that happened today? What is one sad thing that happened today?
3) Did you see God or feel God with you when those things were happening? Where did you see or feel God when those things happened today?
4) Read to your children this week’s scripture selection, then ask the questions that follows.
Luke 13:1-9
Jesus heard about some people who had been hurt. He asked his disciples if these people were bad people because this happened to them. Then he answered his own question: "No, they weren't, but we still need to change our ways so we don't end up like them. And there were people who were hurt because a tower of bricks fell on them. Did that happen because they were sinful?" Jesus asked. "No. It doesn't work like that. But pay attention and turn your lives around for the good anyway.
Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" (Adapted from God's Word, My Voice translation)
4) I wonder if God makes sad things happen in the world.
5) What are some things that you want to tell God that you are grateful for today?