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Forgiveness (we did a)
We did a lesson on Forgiveness a few weeks ago that my kids really enjoyed. It is one my friend made for me when I was in my last Family Home Evening group. She made us each a stocking out of fabric…she just sewed the sides up with yarn so it was really easy to make. Put your family name on the outside. Fill your stocking with several things..tape, pencil, an apple, etc. Have your family take turns feeling it and writing down what they think is inside. After everyone is done take things out and compare to what is on your list.
This activity demonstrates that it is difficult to judge what’s inside something by how it looks and feels. We can see what people do but we can’t see inside to understand why they do things or how they feel.
Tell the following story:
While picnicking in the desert with some friends, a teenage girl was bitten by a rattlesnake. Instead of immediately taking care of the bite and trying to get the poison out of her system, the girl and her friends chased after the snake. It took them fifteen minutes to find the snake and kill it, and by this time the poison had penetrated deeply into the girl’s tissue and blood. Because of her desire for revenge, she ended up having her leg amputated just below the knee. It was a high price to pay.
What does this story have to do with forgiveness?
The most deadly poison of all is the poison of unforgiveness. Other poisons damage the body, but being unforgiving can damage the soul. Just as in the story the girl should have immediately gotten the poison out of her system, when we are offended we need to immediately begin the process of forgiveness. The longer we wait, the harder it is and the more damage we may suffer. Ask your family what we can do if it just seems like we can’t forgive someone. God has promised us that if we try he will give us the strength to forgive others. Sometimes it happens quickly and sometimes it takes time. Have your family think privately if they need to forgive someone and encourage them to ask Heavenly Father to help them forgive.
Thought treat:
Give each person a small butter mint or candy that dissolves easily (hard tack). Tell them “As you forgive someone who has hurt you, or someone who has made you angry, those ugly feelings will disappear just as the hard candy disappears.”
Ancestor Meal
Hold a family night where you talk about your nationalities. Perhaps you have English. Polish, Irish, German or other nationalities in your bloodline. Write all of them down and then think of foods people eat in those countries. Now plan out which dishes you want to eat for your special ‘Ancestor’s Meal’. Choose a night of the week when everyone will be home and make say: Irish Stew for the main course, Serve with a Polish Salad and an English Trifle for dessert. Don’t forget to play ethnical music while you eat.
Caramel Apples
A reminder that Family Night can be simple fun!
Our family had a wonderful Family Home Evening the other night; we made caramel apples, then ate supper, 2 of us cleaned up
the kitchen quickly and then we all played UNO (a mattel game) for about 45 minutes while we ate the caramel apples. It was
so much fun and even Katie (almost 4) could join in–she helped me play and she can match the colors. Plus, the teenage boys
enjoyed it too! (A definite plus!)