First Time Obedience Chart

Spending time every morning with God has definitely been a challenge. You can find a dozen other things to do.....change babies diaper, make breakfast, get clothes for children, clean up spilled cereal and milk, start a load of laundry to keep the laundry monster at bay, check email, fix girls hair, make coffee, sweep up crumbs from last night's dinner (if you were busy the night before in the garden), feed baby, break up a squabble, turn off the TV, begin homeschooling, etc. etc. etc.....

However, you can find a way... Just the other day I approached my husband about this dilemma...I told him that Family Worship in the evening was fine but oftentimes we have things to finish outside late in the evening in the spring and summer. So, instead we need to start our day out with God by having a morning devotion. Since he works from home, he doesn't need to rush off to work, so this is the perfect way to start our day.

Today we read from Mark 1:1-20. Our lesson was on obedience...first time obedience. Jesus called to Simon and Andrew and they immediately stopped what they were doing and followed Him. Then he came upon James and John, again calling unto them to follow Him, and once again we find them immediately following. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

We need to enforce this in our children. They need to learn first time obedience without commenting on the required task. Simon, Andrew, James and John didn't ask, "WHY?" so why should we...

After finishing our devotions, I sat down and made up the chart above. Each child will receive one and each time they do a task the first time, they will get a sticker...if they don't do it the first time, they get a sad face. If I have to ask them to do a job more than twice they will get a number next to the sad face...

So a star = first time obedience.
A sad face = not obedient first time.
A sad face with a number = not obedient # times.

May God grant you grace with your children and husband today!
Blessings!
Heather