How can you tell if something is "great" for your family? Use the "G.R.E.A.T." acronym to prioritize what receives most family resources of time, energy, and money. This can be used before having values fully defined and named. However, it is most beneficial throughout the years after values are in place to determine if opportunities are best for certain seasons of life or if they should be allowed to move onto someone else. Some practical examples for this include assessing moves, transitions, promotions, extra-curricular activities, etc. This can also be a useful tool for parents to coach teens in prioritizing.
Scripture informing this episode: Luke 9:46-48; Psalm 145; Colossians 3
Connection Activity: **This activity is not for social media; just the privacy of your family. If documenting the experience, write the info in a journal.
Trading places: Daydream with the kids what they will be like as a "Dad" or "Mom". What will they do to connect with their families, train and correct their people, eat for dinner, etc.? How will they show their love and enjoy each other? Some of the answers will likely be silly and involve lots of sugar, but others may be actual teaching moments God uses in an earlier generation of the family! If you are super brave, role play for 30 minutes letting the kids "parent" while the parents act out the kids' roles- requiring the training and correction! Definitely sit with God during those "clear-brain moments" David talks about to pre-plan and strategize some hypothetical pretend kid scenarios and responses with your spouse beforehand (i.e. being hungry, waiting in line, interrupting, saying "I know" to everything they say).
Resources:
1) you and me forever by Francis and Lisa Chan, especially the introduction and the first chapter. Yes, it is a marriage book but after reading the illustration and prayerfully imagining the marriage first, ask God to help use that eternal lens to shape the ultimate goal in parenting.
2) These blogs support the "effort" and 'attitude" of G.R.E.A.T.
https://www.platimebox.com/blog-1/2017/10/19/sick-day-survival
