The Strong Silent Method of Teaching Life Skills

Psst . . . {in a whisper voice} How much quiet time do you get?

I’m going to share a bit on the power of silence to raise strong and resilient children.  However, as with teaching life skills in general, our kids ‘pick up’ most of what they learn in this area by what they see us, and others they regularly spend time with, do.

If you agree that our children learn quite a lot from just being around us – even when (especially when?) we’re not intentionally teaching them, then how we act is pretty important. I could probably even argue (if I was the arguing type) that children learn to be overcomers, easy going and adaptable, mainly by being around people that show those characteristics. Kids that are mainly exposed to weaker character traits and see people that are vulnerable to their circumstances have a much harder time developing the power traits that will help them grow stronger through the difficulties of life.

What We Do Teaches More

We need to work on ourselves to build resilient children. I’ve got lots of room to improve in certain areas, but I have discovered a few things that, when done consistently, improve my overall attitude and just make me be a kinder and more tolerant person – especially when my kids aren’t showing their best!

I’ve often prayed for God to take away my anger, help stop my snide remarks and guide me to not lash out when I’m faced with rebellious children (or a disagreeable husband). I yearn for more patience, tolerance and a calm and peaceful heart. Little by little, I’m letting God mould me into His vision for me. However, there is so much more I could be doing to speed up the process.

Have you ever had some amazing success in having God deliver you from a harmful habit or a negative attitude, then over time – ever so subtly – you fall back into your old ways that you thought you’d done away with?

I could share several situations where this has happened to me. It certainly wasn’t God ‘taking away’ something he’d given me. I’ve gotten spiritually mature enough to know that He’s already given us everything through Jesus, and the issue is whether I’m receiving His goodness. It comes down to whether I’m living from the Holy Spirit that dwells inside of me or letting my human nature take the leadership role?

I regularly meditate on the words, “Seek Him first and His way of thinking and being, and all things shall be added on to you.” My slight paraphrase of Matthew 6:33 highlights the seeking, discovering, exploring, meditating on, and growing with God.

Teaching Life Skills by Improving My Attitude

Getting ‘right in my head’ has been the key for me to improve my attitude in all circumstance. That statement doesn’t mean that I have the perfect response or reaction in EVERY situation, but the poor attitude is improving. And I can’t even say that it’s because the people around me have become easier to be around (although I’ve had many prayers for that too). The credit is all to God and especially His Word. It is my go-to source of renewal, revitalization, security and peace.

Teaching life skills to your kids is directly related to the silent action you take with your Lord and Saviour to live from the Spirit. Here are three ways that you can use silent time to have your head in the right place and lead your kids to greatness.

1. Read from the Bible every day. Read a verse, read a chapter, read even more. But don’t read just to check it off your list (speaking from experience here). Read to understand and discover something new. You may get enough from just one verse. There are many times that I have. You may get taken up in the Word and read for pages. God wants you to experience something different with Him each time you open the Word and seek Him.
2. Read or listen to Bible studies, preaching and other’s perspective on their experience with God’s Word. Hearing directly from the God-inspired book is important – essential for your personal growth – but God is regularly working through other people to bring a fresh revelation on what He shares in the Bible. As any good man or woman of God will tell you, don’t whole-heartedly believe all that you hear but prove it true through your personal exploration of the Word.
3. Sit in silence. Not with the intention to pray (but I often start with a prayer of praise) or to contemplate the ups and downs of your day, but sit to eliminate the thoughts that regularly stream through your mind to make the space to know God, hear from God, grow with God. Pick a word or a short verse that you can use to bring your mind back to the silent sitting when it inevitably starts to wander. Be still and listen with your heart for the guidance of God.

I purpose to include all of this and a bit more in my morning routine. Every now and again life gets busy (busier than the regular busy), and I feel like I don’t have the time to fit this in my morning. I wake up late and kids and husband are up soon after, or I just get into housework, computer work or reading some of the 2-3 books I have on the go at any given moment.

And when I don’t make the time for this silent time welcoming God’s presence, then my mind gets irritated more quickly, my temper is quick to flare up and I generally feel like a complete scatterbrain.

Yes, you have to be strong to fit this silent time in your life because it seems like you’re not accomplishing much. But His ways are better than our ways, and somehow spending time in His Word and presence makes the day better – makes me better to show my kids better.

Stephanie Morrison has been building businesses, mostly from home, for over 10 years, motivated by her strong determination that her two youngest boys would be educated at home. She works for The Old Schoolhouse® on the Canadian team, and also coaches entrepreneurs to start and grow their business from home. Her and her family are all comfortably nestled in the trees in Central Ontario. She loves being a home-body and building up her permaculture property. Learn more about Steph at www.creatingworkandplay.com