Does the unstructured time of the holidays lead to fighting and arguing between your children? We wanted to replay this episode on the highly-requested topic of handling siblings. Which should tell you that you aren't alone in the struggle! Parenting biblically is hard, so we are providing some of our best tips for how we've stewarded sibling relationships. Not just managing them, but pointing our children toward lifelong loving friendships. Today's episode has practical systems for managing this, but also gets to the heart of what do you really do? What does a good apology look like? How do you encourage your children to work out biblical principles like forgiveness and grace?

Scriptures Mentioned:

Ephesians 4:30- 32

Hebrews 3:13

Romans 12:15

Jeremiah 17:9

Romans 12:9-12

Closing Prayer: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

They're the joyful agains our children

shout on the swings, the exhausting

2

agains of cooking and laundry, and

the difficult agains of discipline.

3

So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

4

So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

5

to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

6

We believe God's Word is

the key to untangle from the

7

confusion and overwhelm we feel.

8

Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

9

Thanks for joining us

for the again, podcast.

10

I'm your host, Stephanie Hickox.

11

And today I'm choosing to replay an

episode because I think it might be

12

an ideal time to have a refresher.

13

As we embrace the unstructured

time provided for by the holidays.

14

I find it can be really wonderful

to revisit what we desire

15

to have happen in our home.

16

We are replaying the

sandpaper sound of siblings.

17

That episode was highly biased

into, but it's one of the things

18

we deal with most in our homes.

19

And it is one of our most

requested topics to discuss.

20

I know that I always appreciate having

a refresher on solid parenting wisdom.

21

Every day in our own

homes, we see the tension.

22

Of raising children and raising siblings.

23

I love that this episode talks about

stewarding it and not just managing it.

24

Actually pointing our children

toward loving lifelong relationships.

25

As we discussed that sandpaper

sound of siblings smoothing

26

out each other's rough edges.

27

And the iron sharpening iron in your home.

28

Betsy Corning, Jen

Frackman and Emily deal.

29

We'll give practical systems , but

also getting to the heart

30

of what do you really do?

31

What does a good apology look like?

32

And how do you encourage your children

to work out biblical principles

33

like forgiveness and showing grace?

34

And having restoration in the home.

35

It's a very comprehensive topic, but

hopefully these few moments of wisdom.

36

Give you inspiration to press into the

Lord for how to guide your children.

37

To love each other and to love him.

38

Steph: All right, Emily, you have two

children, which can present a beautiful

39

opportunity for bonding, but then a

little bit of a challenge sometimes too.

40

Yes.

41

So I would love for you to speak to how

you've managed that in your home, and

42

the wisdom that the Lord's brought you.

43

Emily: Yes, we have two children.

44

My oldest being 17 and that is my son,

and then my youngest being actually

45

almost 13, and that is my daughter.

46

So.

47

throughout

48

the years, sibling relationships

shift and change as they mature.

49

And you face different challenges.

50

But something consistent that we have said

in our home is to keep short account of

51

one another's wrongdoing because you will

most definitely disappoint one another,

52

it's inevitable, or hurt one another.

53

And so having the ability to be quick to

forgive, which I understand when they're

54

young, is a hard thing to work through.

55

But if you can stay consistent and

work through it to the age that

56

my kids are, 17 and almost 13, it

reaps great benefits because you've

57

trained them to keep short account.

58

Now that does not mean that they do it

perfectly, but we've used the verse in

59

Ephesians 4:30- 32, and it speaks to

letting all bitterness and wrath and

60

anger and clamor and slander be put

away from you along with all malice

61

and be kind one to another tender

hearted, forgiving each other just as

62

God in Christ has also forgiven you.

63

And so along those lines we also

have talked a lot with our children

64

about cheering one another on.

65

There can be so much tension within

siblings of different opportunities

66

that come their way at different times.

67

When they were young, there

was a lot of, that's not fair.

68

We've all heard that phrase.

69

And so we talked a lot with them

that you will have different

70

opportunities at different times.

71

My oldest may get to go to a really fun

church activity or an amusement park.

72

And my daughter, you know,

may not, and that's okay.

73

But the important thing is to cheer one

another on and be happy when opportunities

74

come their way at different times.

75

That's helped us a lot as well.

76

And I would say also speaking into

each other's day at, at the dinner

77

table and asking questions to one

another about what they've done and

78

how it went and, oh, how did the

golf tournament go and what happened?

79

And funny stories and just

cultivating that relationship of

80

interest in each other's interests.

81

And as I said before, as they get

older, this will just come like second

82

nature because you've built it into them.

83

So yes, we've worked very hard to

keep the competition away from each

84

other and to respect one another's

interests and to love on each other.

85

Because we've also talked about

the verse encourage one another

86

while it is still today (Heb 3:13)

87

those are just a few

tips that have helped us.

88

Jen: It reminds me of the verse that

says, rejoice with those who rejoice and

89

mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15)

90

and so not having a spirit of

competition with each other.

91

But when your sibling gets to go

to Six Flags and you're staying

92

home, yes, rejoice with them.

93

That's so fun for you.

94

I'm so happy and just.

95

You know, dying to self isn't that

what forgiveness is, is dying to

96

self and being able to rejoice with

others and not put yourself first.

97

And we've said that with our

kids, that you need to be willing

98

to yield your demands, your ways

that you wanna be treated, your

99

rights to your siblings at times.

100

It's not always about you.

101

It's not always gonna be your

special moment, your special day.

102

And, God was willing to die.

103

Jesus was willing to die on the cross

for us and to give up his life for us.

104

And so if it's the ability to be able

to roll that off your back, die to self.

105

Let that go and not need every moment of

your life to be met the way you want it,

106

how you want it and when you want it.

107

That's a huge skill to learn.

108

Even for adults.

109

It's hard, it's hard to do that

because we see the desire that we have.

110

So we've tried to teach our

kids that you work it out first.

111

If you have a problem with your

sibling, you go to them first and you

112

say, that hurt my feelings that you

did this, and you try to work it out.

113

And if the two of you cannot work it out,

then you need to come to mom and dad.

114

But even in coming to us,

you can't just come and tell

115

everything that your brother did.

116

If you need help working it out,

then you come to me and you say, I

117

have a hard time seeing my own sin.

118

Can you help me work this out and help

me see where I may have gone wrong?

119

That's a totally different attitude than

120

He

121

came and he took this

out and he wanted this.

122

Then you just want revenge.

123

You just want justice in your own way.

124

And so we've really tried to pour

into them that reconciliation and

125

forgiveness, they work together, but

it starts with you owning your own sin.

126

And, and reconciling yourself and

your heart right with the Lord first.

127

And then you can rightfully go to that

person and ask for, for forgiveness.

128

We even talked about, Having a

correct apology, owning what you

129

did, saying what was wrong, how you

wish you would've done it, or you

130

might do it better in the future.

131

And asking that forgiveness

from that person.

132

And then we always have them end with a

hug and, we have them say best buddies.

133

So they have to look at each

other's smile and say, best buddies.

134

And then when they've smiled,

then they've moved on.

135

Then they know that

their hearts are right.

136

And if they can't do that,

their heart's not right and

137

then they're still tripped up.

138

Betsy: I always say if they can go

on doing what they were doing before

139

the squabble, that they've actually

gone full circle, that they've

140

really reconciled with each other.

141

Mm-hmm.

142

But I think it's so important because

you can look at relationships of people.

143

I, I would even use my own family

as an example when I was younger.

144

My mom would repeat that verse and

she would say, be tenderhearted when

145

she saw us getting to that point.

146

But then not really teaching us how to

ask forgiveness, how to own our sin.

147

It's still hard in life if you haven't

really been taught that as a child.

148

There's a lot of pride that can

build up and that in older sibling

149

relationships, Can really cause

difficulties because grudges can be held

150

onto, and it's just really sad, because

we always say family is your constant.

151

And I tell my grandkids and my kids, no

matter where you go in the world, your

152

brothers and sisters are your constant.

153

You'll have friends that you think

are your very best friends, but

154

they will probably come and go

and your siblings are forever.

155

So learn to really.

156

Ask forgiveness.

157

Mm-hmm.

158

And receive forgiveness

and be quick to forgive.

159

It's really three parts.

160

And if we can think about ourselves,

am I able to ask forgiveness?

161

Am I able to model that to my kids?

162

Because that's a humbling thing.

163

Mm-hmm.

164

So if we can ask forgiveness of

somebody, sometimes even of our

165

kids, we have to ask forgiveness.

166

So if we're able to ask forgiveness, then

we're modeling to them that humility.

167

And then if we give forgiveness quickly.

168

So if they ask their sibling

for forgiveness and they give

169

it quickly, that's what we

want them to learn to quickly

170

forgive, not to hold those

grudges and then to receive it.

171

If you've received forgiveness from

somebody, that's a very healing thing.

172

Mm-hmm.

173

So if those three things are

happening and the earlier they're

174

happening, when children are young

and they're learning that, like you

175

both have said already, is amazing.

176

I look at biblical examples of

sibling relationships gone awry.

177

It seems like there's more

of them have gone very badly.

178

And Cain Abel, obviously we would

never want anything like that.

179

Joseph and his brothers, although

God worked it for good, so God can

180

take the relationships that seem to

have gone badly and work it for his

181

good David's sons, because of what he

modeled for his sons, they went poorly.

182

So I think we can take those

examples and think we don't wanna

183

teach our kids partiality or if

there's jealousy between them.

184

We really wanna address that early on.

185

Emily: Yeah.

186

Mm-hmm.

187

Jen: I think also it's important for

our kids to see that early on in life,

188

sometimes you are not going to get an

apology, and even as an adult, there's

189

been times that I've had to forgive

people who have never apologized, but I

190

needed to forgive them for my own heart.

191

Before the Lord, and also

to work through that pain.

192

And so when you are given , a true apology

from someone, that softens your heart

193

to them so much, and so being willing to

submit to that and being able to forgive

194

even when you're not given the apology.

195

From someone to allow your,

the Lord to soften your heart

196

Betsy: so the bitterness

doesn't build up in your heart.

197

Yeah.

198

So you can be, they're off your hook.

199

Yes, and I see that because in

older relationships, With siblings,

200

let's say older grownups, they may

be holding a grudge and you have

201

to forgive them and forgive them

and forgive them for some reason.

202

They hold onto a hurt that you

cannot get to the bottom of.

203

For whatever reason, we know

these things can happen.

204

It's happened in my family, but

I've also seen that grace given and

205

prayer , really, really, really makes

a difference in over many years.

206

Can soften the heart of the

other person, so we forgive them.

207

So we don't become bitter, even if

we have to sometimes bear up under

208

harsh feelings from other siblings.

209

But how sad when it is family, right?

210

Yes.

211

So that's why we work on them very,

very much with our little ones.

212

Emily: Mm-hmm.

213

Steph: Absolutely.

214

It's such a training

ground for all of life.

215

All of these blessings we

have that start in a family.

216

We will be in relationships for.

217

Ever.

218

And so I tell my children regularly,

do you understand what a blessing

219

this will be for your marriage?

220

Your brother is teaching you how

to be a good husband right now.

221

So for me, I love homeschooling

because it gives me an opportunity

222

to steward these relationships.

223

My kids are together all the time,

and I'm with them all the time, and

224

I've realized Jen, I'm not doing

what you were saying very well.

225

I've been convicted of this recently

that I'm not training them to

226

handle it on their own without

me, because I'm always there.

227

Mm.

228

So I think I've had kind of the

standard for myself almost, that

229

I'm trying to model the omnipresence

of God or the availability of God.

230

I want my children to know they can

come to me and mom's here for you.

231

And I was convicted of

that a couple years ago.

232

Specifically that No, it's okay for.

233

Them to know that mom wasn't available.

234

Mm-hmm.

235

That only God is always available to you.

236

And so sometimes you're gonna need to

work things out and I can't be there.

237

And so I feel my kids are

getting to that point now.

238

They're 12, 10, 9, and five and a half

that I need to be setting up a better

239

standard of how do we approach each other?

240

How do we work through that when mom

isn't available to help us But I

241

really try to encourage them to see.

242

The wonderful parts of each other, even

in the conflict, do you see how forgiving

243

your brother is so that that son might be.

244

The most impulsive or struggle with

self-control, but he is so forgiving

245

and he has such a tender heart.

246

And so I, I say, do you see that in him?

247

And I know you, you're so self-controlled.

248

But honey, sometimes when we're

self-controlled, we struggle with

249

thinking that we're always right.

250

And so we need to have humility too.

251

And sometimes I've learned that

they're telling me their stories.

252

And it's a little bit too heated

and I need to maybe take one into a

253

different room and just let them know.

254

I hear you.

255

I hear that.

256

That was frustrating.

257

Do you see the other perspective?

258

And just relating to them and

empathizing, you know what?

259

I chose daddy.

260

And still there are moments where

mom has a hard time being gracious

261

and asking for forgiveness or

walking in humility or patience.

262

And so I know the Lord chose

this for you and it makes sense

263

that you're having conflict.

264

So I think when you expect that,

of course, these, this iron

265

sharpening iron is not always

the prettiest sound in your home.

266

I think that helps you to not

think, what am I doing wrong

267

or what's wrong with them?

268

Why can't they just get along?

269

I, I think you should think this is

exactly what it should sound like.

270

We're working it out.

271

Yes, we're, we're training them.

272

All those rough edges are being

smoothed and to the character

273

that God wants them to have.

274

I think a trend in our culture

right now is busyness and

275

filling our lives with activity.

276

So much so that some of these

relationships can't be stewarded

277

well, so there's a conflict,

but we'll get to it later.

278

We've gotta handle something

else and not prioritizing.

279

No, we need to get to the heart of this.

280

And so I would challenge moms to not put

band-aids on things, not to just save

281

everything for later to realize if this

is a problem in your home, go after it.

282

Give those kids.

283

That are struggling, really give

them time to work through it,

284

provide bonding experiences for them.

285

You know, if I'm gonna pick two kids

to go to grandma's house, I'm gonna

286

pick the two maybe that are struggling,

because I know they're gonna go

287

have a bonding experience together.

288

And , they'll come back and they'll

be like, we had so much fun together,

289

even though maybe there might be a

little friction So just trying to

290

give them different opportunities.

291

Or maybe I run an errand and I take

those too and remind them that they

292

do love each other in many ways.

293

Emily: So I'm so glad you said that

Steph because it reminded me that

294

often I think of siblings as sandpaper

to one another, and you need to allow

295

the friction work through the friction

so you can get to the smooth edges.

296

And I think that if you allow it to happen

in the right way, that siblings can knock

297

off the rough, rough edges and prepare

you for other relationships in life.

298

Every relationship we have as the Lord

constructed it because everything he

299

does and has for us is in perfect order.

300

But every relationship in our

life family-wise is meant for

301

yielding and dying to self.

302

And that is what we're asking our

children to do when they ask for

303

forgiveness and reconciliation.

304

We're asking them to die to

self and move on, which is

305

exactly what Christ asked of us.

306

And so he has us come full

circle in those moments.

307

And so yes, I agree.

308

Don't put the bandaid on.

309

Let the friction happen.

310

Work through the friction and let

it sand off those rough edges.

311

Betsy: Yeah.

312

Expect the friction because

they're little sinners and they're

313

not gonna, they're not gonna

know how to live together rightly

314

and and honor and selflessly.

315

So to actually have to.

316

We have to put in some

effort for that to happen.

317

And it, it can be so exasperating

to moms, but we really need to put

318

in that effort pays off dividends.

319

Well, some of the things that we've

done, I would say, Stephanie, one of the

320

things I did with two of my grandsons

that I thought, these two brothers really

321

need to bond and they're only one apart.

322

So sometimes there's more rivalry

when they're very close in age.

323

Mm-hmm.

324

But I thought, They're very different,

but they need to be bonding.

325

And I took them on a, a trip,

the two of them, that for a week.

326

That I knew would alter their perspective

of many things, but hopefully also of

327

their relationship because I wanted

it to be a different kind of trip.

328

It was a international trip, and

I wanted them to say whenever

329

they talked about it in life.

330

They knew that they had somebody

that understood completely

331

what they were saying.

332

So for the rest of their life,

they have this experience and

333

that was really a big part of it.

334

And I think they, they still do,

but sometimes it doesn't have

335

to be a big thing like that.

336

I couldn't have done that with

my children, but sometimes I

337

can do that as a grandparent.

338

But to look for little

things in your children that.

339

They can go to the swim, meet

of the bigger brother and cheer

340

him on with, you know, flags and

everything, or whatever it is.

341

I love,

342

I loved hearing that.

343

Share responsibilities together.

344

You know, you two are going to set

the table together, or you two are

345

gonna do this whatever ages they are,

but teach them how to work together

346

and then shared interests too.

347

That's fun.

348

I have 10 grandkids.

349

We all make Play-Doh together, so

whatever, from age 20 down to five.

350

And even if they were one, they sat in

the high chair and played with Play-Doh

351

and it was just such a fun experience.

352

I like to think of things that the

entire age group can do together.

353

Emily: Mm-hmm.

354

Jen: We

355

have a idea in

356

our family that, yes, sometimes you have

a bigger knot that needs to be worked

357

out, and it takes a little bit more than

just a quick right there in the moment.

358

And so in the idea that.

359

In those situations where it's a bigger

thing, you are allowed to think on it

360

and pray about it and work your heart

towards forgiveness in that area.

361

And it doesn't have to be immediate,

but during the time where you're working

362

out with the Lord or with a parent to

be able to go back to that person, you

363

still have to treat that sibling with

kindness and respect and gentleness.

364

You may not, you know, give

him the cold shoulder or Just

365

ignore them or be rude to them.

366

You are to still love them kindly.

367

And then say, you know, I, I need to

think about this a little bit so I can

368

get clarity on my own heart of what, what

really upset me, what really hurt me.

369

And then to be able to go back to them

and say, okay, here's where it really was.

370

I thought it was this that you said

this, but really in the depths.

371

I felt this in my heart

when you said that.

372

And I think sometimes just.

373

Being away from the situation for a moment

and allowing themselves, because they're

374

so young, they don't know their hearts.

375

You know, our hearts are deceitful and

desperately wicked, who can know it (Jer

376

so allowing them to work that out and

to understand a little bit of what's

377

going on and then going back to them,

but still being kind in the moment.

378

because that's hard.

379

That's hard when you're hurt by

someone to be kind to them still.

380

Steph: Absolutely.

381

Betsy: And when they've done those three

steps, we say it's as if you've just

382

scrubbed the chalkboard clean and you

have no offenses against each other and

383

you hug each other like you say Yes.

384

And, and you know when they can

go on and do what they were doing.

385

Yes, that that's actually happened.

386

Mm-hmm.

387

Or if they say, no, I think

I'm gonna do this instead.

388

Well, maybe, but you wanna make sure

389

that it's

390

not.

391

because there's still

some hurt feelings there.

392

Yeah.

393

Well, Stephanie and I probably

have a tip that we love, we

394

call it the Happy Men Steph.

395

You wanna share what that is?

396

Steph: Sure.

397

I actually have some very fun, Happy

Men that we found at an antique store.

398

And they're tiny, little

vintage metal soldiers.

399

I mean, they're very tiny,

400

Horses.

401

Yes.

402

Less than an inch tall.

403

And I found four different colors.

404

So they're in a tiny pouch in my purse.

405

If there's an opportunity for something

to happen and, I try to, treat

406

everyone well and love on them, but

it doesn't always work out to be fair.

407

And so if there's an opportunity, you

can just pull one out of the bag it's

408

interesting sometimes when you implement a

system like this, you see the fruit of it.

409

They learn it, and so then you don't even

have to use the tool as much because.

410

It produced the fruit, they realized,

I'm not gonna complain because my

411

term will come, or, or maybe it

won't, but I'm rejoicing with others.

412

Betsy: Yeah.

413

I think it's great to cheer each other

on and when I would do the Happy Men

414

with my grandchildren, whoever won

the other three would have to shake

415

their hand and say, congratulations.

416

I'm so happy for you

417

Jen: Aw.

418

Emily: I love

419

this.

420

What ages did you start

implementing the Happy Men?

421

Betsy: they happened to be

about eight to 12 at the time.

422

Were taking them on a little excursion

and they can get into it so quickly.

423

And I knew we were gonna be

in the car for a long time,

424

and we used these happy men, which

just happened to be the marker

425

men from the Candyland game.

426

Mm-hmm.

427

That I put in a little pouch, stuck

it in my purse, and oh my goodness.

428

It worked so, so well.

429

Because sometimes, you know, somebody's

gonna get a better bed well, or

430

somebody's gonna get this or that.

431

And it, it just, worked great.

432

Steph: Something we talk a lot about in

Entrusted is the family plan, and I love

433

having a family plan to point my kids to.

434

Often when we have conflict,

I'll say, can you go to the

435

family plan and tell me which one

you're struggling with right now?

436

So ours comes out of

Romans 12, nine through 12.

437

Let love be genuine.

438

Abhor what is evil?

439

Hold fast to what is good.

440

Love one another with brotherly affection,

outdo one another and showing honor.

441

Do not be slothful in zeal.

442

Be fervent in spirit.

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Serve the Lord.

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Rejoice in hope.

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Be patient in tribulation.

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Be constant in prayer.

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So the principles that we set up

for our family are that we pursue

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righteousness, we honor and serve.

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We live for Jesus, we press on in hope.

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We choose joy and kindness and

we find our strength in prayer.

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So I can tell my kids, can you go to

that and can you tell me which one

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you're struggling with right now?

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It's amazing to me how intuitive

they are and perceptive of

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what they're struggling with.

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And so sometimes I know that they

need a little bit of a calming down.

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And so I'll say, can you write out

the family commitment right now?

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Just having that scripture, you know,

letting the, the word of God be the

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power in their lives and not my coaching

through it is sometimes the best

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thing I think that I can do for them.

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So already they're training themselves.

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Ah, that verse is convicting.

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Am I looking for things to be equal or am

I out doing my brother and showing honor?

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Am I outdoing my sibling?

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One of my friends, her kids

actually did this, but she has a

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kindness jar in her kitchen and

it's full of little colored pompoms.

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And so when someone sees

something kind towards another

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person, they move it to a bowl.

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And once the bowl is full, they might do

something like have ice cream as a family.

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So even though we don't want.

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To be rewards based and we're not

just looking for the external things.

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I think it is great to focus on

the good that our kids are doing.

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We're gonna see many

opportunities for correction.

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But are we saying I saw

that that was so loving.

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That's exactly how I want

you to talk to your sister.

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You're being so protective of her.

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Jen: Yeah, and I think sometimes those

things are super helpful to hold us as

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moms accountable cuz we see the jar there

and it's like, oh yeah, that's right.

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I want to, I want to do that.

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We have an accountability board.

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I literally call it the

accountability board and I will put.

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Good things that they've done.

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I'll just write it on there because I

know in the moment they might not be

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in the room when I thought like, oh

yeah, he just picked up his socks and

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he didn't need to be told to do that.

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That was such a blessing to me, and so

I'll write it on the board and it is

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like a way for me to remember that I

need to do that, but he can also read

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it and say, oh, mom noticed I did that.

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But then I'll also put the accountability

of like, Okay, this kid's gonna bed early.

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They, they had a discipline

and I might forget otherwise.

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And so having some type of

accountability for myself as well.

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Eventually once you get in the habit

of it, you might not need the bowl

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or you might not need the board as

much, but it is a great tool to use

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to train up yourself as you're doing

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Steph: it.

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Absolutely.

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I always say that children

are faithfulness monitors.

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Like,

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Jen: like, yeah.

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Steph: like, and I

500

learned that kind of

as a classroom teacher,

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You said we were gonna,

I'm like, you're right.

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I did.

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Thank you so much for that.

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It's

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true.

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Emily: true.

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And then as they get older, we recently

moved and I can honestly say that our move

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was so much smoother because of our son.

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He is so handy

510

he's 17.

511

and

512

,

we did not tell him to do all the things, but he saw the needs and filled it.

513

And so later on you don't, you

move to a place that you don't

514

physically need a tangible thing.

515

It just starts to happen

516

and you're like, thank you, such

a blessing to see that in action.

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Jen: Mm-hmm.

518

Betsy: Right.

519

We

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used a chart for certain years, but

then after a while you're hoping

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that it's all integrating and they're

self-governing and all these things.

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But that will be another day

that we talk about the chart.

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Oh,

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Steph: Yes, absolutely.

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And it's such an amazing resource

to help your kids develop

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initiative and to work on those

things you're seeing in your home.

527

Instead of developing a new

system, you can use this resource

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continually to target the things

that are issues in your home.

529

because we expect that

there will be issues, right?

530

Mm-hmm.

531

We are working this out, our children

are working this out, and it is an

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honor to work through it with them.

533

So yes, , we expect, yes, there

will be the friction, there's

534

going to be the sandpaper moments.

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But if you are faithful.

536

You will often find that you'll have

children who become best friends

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instead of just trying to maintain peace

at your Thanksgiving table someday.

538

And I know that's what we all

want and, I don't think it's luck.

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I think there's a lot of intention Yes.

540

That can steward that.

541

If you would love to work it out

with a small group of moms, we

542

would encourage you to look to

Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

543

Lessons 18 and 19 dive deep

in this, and one of my very.

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Very favorite tips on paper chains

is brought up there that I'll let

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you take the class to find out

more about that one, but that was

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really a powerful tool in our home.

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Isn't it a blessing to listen again.

548

As we embrace the unstructured

time provided for by the holidays.

549

I find it can be really wonderful

to revisit our goals and what we

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desire to have happen in our home.

551

To set our sights on the Lord

once again, and to revisit how

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to point our children to him.

553

We did vent in the chart in this episode.

554

And in a previous episode, a

couple of weeks ago, Betsy and

555

I talked about it in depth.

556

If you are curious about that, we

have it on sale for the first time

557

ever on our website right now.

558

You can get a two year

supply of the chart.

559

We also have our book for couples and

trusted with the child's heart on sale

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for the lowest price it's ever been.

561

And those deals are ending shortly.

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So we encourage you to

head over to our website.

563

And while you're there, would

you consider becoming a monthly

564

donor or contributing a year?

565

End gift.

566

We are almost entirely run by

donations from believers that

567

desire to seek God's word, be the

foundation and homes across the globe.

568

We would be so grateful if you

would consider contributing to that.

569

Please join us in prayer that he

would continue to bless the ministry

570

so we can encourage moms like you.

571

.

Steph: Before you go, I want to pray this benediction over you

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from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.

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We're rooting for you.

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To this end, we always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of His

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calling, and may fulfill every resolve

for good, and every work of faith by

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His power, so that the name of our Lord

Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in

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Him, according to the grace of our God.

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And the Lord Jesus Christ.

579

Amen.

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Until we meet again.