TEAR-IFFIC!

Before you speak with your child, purchase a small present for them. Wrap it in newspaper or another basic wrapping. Ensure all parts of the gift are covered, but don’t worry about making the wrapping look beautiful. The less exciting the gift is, the easier it will be to make your point.

Approach your child with the gift and tell them you have something special for them.

Say: I have a small surprise for you! Would you rather open it or look at it? (Don’t let them open it yet.) What do you think about the wrapping paper? Do you think this gift looks nice? Do you think the gift is nice on the inside?

Listen and respond to their answers. Encourage them to share how they really feel about the wrapping.

Say: We’ll open the gift in a moment, but first, I want to explain something very important. Good things in life — growing, learning and getting better at something — feel great! But they usually come from things that don’t feel so good — like messing up, making mistakes or feeling like we can’t do something.

When we feel that way, we might want to avoid those feelings altogether. But they aren’t really “bad” at all! They’re a natural part of growing, and God doesn’t want us to be controlled by how we feel. He knows we might get worried or discouraged, but moving through the uncomfortable stuff in life helps us get to the incredible gifts God has for us. You can open your present now!

Share the hope of God’s Word and pray together with your child.