10 Ways to Show Love to Your Kids without Spending Money

Rachel Wojo

Recently I was astonished to come across a 2013 statistic on how much money Americans spend on Valentine's Day.  Consumers spend nearly $2 billion on flowers and $2 billon on candy each Valentine's Day according to CNN's library statistics. Wow- that's a lot of love.  And a lot of money.

While gifts are wonderful, money doesn't equal love and neither does love equal money. There are many ways your kids can see love in action and today I thought we could explore 10 ways to show love to your kids without spending money.

Live With Deep Intention

Christin

It's difficult in today's noisy world to see what lies beyond it -- an unseen eternity. There was a time in my early years of marriage when I thought more eternally, but today I struggle to see that place through the chaos, the distractions, and all the voices. Being eternally-minded requires some intentional effort. 

As the new year rolled in, I wanted to set some time aside to think about what God would have for me in 2015 -- more so for our family. How would He have me accomplish His will?

Three Things That I am Learning That Are Changing Everything

Ruth Schwenk

The bedtime routine with our three boys usually culminates with a story from the Jesus Storybook Bible.

Well, several weeks ago, when it came time to choosing the Bible story for the night, our youngest son, Owen, decided to go right back to the beginning of his Bible and choose the creation story. 

So we read about how God created everything out of nothing. How He simply spoke, and whatever He said happened.

At the end of this incredible story, I asked my boys, “Wow! If God can do that, is there anything He can’t do?” 

Resolving Conflict...For Life

Resolving Conflict...For Life

Ruth Simons
Parenting, Marriage/Relationships

Maybe it’s just my house, but 2015 has started with quite a bit more conflict than I would like to admit. Conflict between adults, conflict between siblings, conflict between parents and children. I’ve had ample opportunity to consider what is truly happening when we, in family, fight. 

When my kids argue, I tend to draw the quickest line from bickering to judicial resolution. I’m quick to call order with the gavel, and solve the issue with a definitive redistribution of toys, separation of offenders, and a call to cease and desist. Everyone has an explanation for why there’s conflict, and the reason is never themselves. 

Have you ever noticed: When we ask our kids what the problem is, in the midst of conflict, no one ever says, “The problem in this situation is my selfish pride.” It’s not so different from conflict between parents either. After all, my kids are learning how to handle conflict by watching me.

Finding Quiet: Turning Down the Noise in Your World

Finding Quiet: Turning Down the Noise in Your World

Daniele

It’s an understatement to say that I love quiet.  I always have.

My best and most productive days include regular patterns of quiet time -- preferably chunks of silence.  If in the car alone, which is rare, the radio or CDs are hardly ever played.  

Even with homeschooling four (not so quiet), creative, (maybe loud?) children, somehow we have managed to establish afternoon pauses.  Everyone stops to enjoy quiet for at least a few minutes.  As the children have aged, the time allotment has grown.

Bliss.

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