“Mom, you’ll buy us a new toy on our next trip, right?”
My kids are bombarded everyday with advertisements to buy new things. They receive a free lego magazine in the mail where they see all the new sets they could buy. They pour over it, circling the items they want to save their allowance for. Even after getting a new toy, all too soon, I hear, “Mom, I’m bored!”
“What about the new legos you just got?”
“I’m done with them.”
“Already?”
My heart is the same way. I want something new and then soon after I get it, I want something else that’s new. My heart is never satisfied. It’s because I fill it with temporary things that can never fill the place in my heart made for God alone.
This is a topic I talk to my children about all the time. They’ve memorized Matthew 22:37. We talk about what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. We’ve done activities to help them think about the idols in their heart. And my ongoing prayer for them is that God would be their first and greatest love.
Recently, I found small wooden treasure boxes at the craft store that I knew my boys would love to use to put their small collections of shells and other finds inside. They decided that instead of painting them, they wanted to draw on them with permanent marker. While they colored, I read to them the story of the man who found a treasure in the The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name. We then talked about what it means for Jesus to be our greatest treasure. I told them that every time they look at their treasure box, it is a reminder of who their greatest treasure is.
And as for new toys, I told my son that day that if they weren’t going to play with the toys they have, I would get rid of all of them and give them to someone who would appreciate them. Later on, I found they had gotten out their long forgotten Tinker Toys and constructed a tower out of them.
How do you like to point your children to their greatest treasure? I’d love to hear your fun, creative ideas!
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Love this idea! I want to make treasure boxes! Definitely something I will add to our summer teaching activities. As I’ve been going through the Psalms, I’ve been amazed at how often David goes back to our heart. It is the part of ourselves from which all our root problem stem. I love how seamlessly you talk to your kids about those root issues and how you encourage us to do the same and examine our hearts! Thankful for you!
Awesome idea! I love the visual reminder that He is our treasure.
Adorable treasure boxes! You sound like me - I too mention to the girls if they don’t care for their things, I’ll quickly donate to some children who will! We’re slowly beginning the process of decluttering and simplifying space in the house. It really gives us the opportunity to look at something and decide if it’s worth keeping. Maybe we’ll be done by next spring!
Teaching appreciation is tough! With 5 kids I don’t ever buy a toy at the store so that does cut down on the asking, but appreciating? Needs to be taught daily!