Take A Hike!

About 2 weeks ago we had fall break here in IN.  Our plan was to take the kids camping and have our first family camping trip!  We were so excited until the bad weather came!  We were bummed.  I was looking forward to spending time in God's beautiful creation and talking to the kids about it.  

But, God still allowed us a short nature hike!  We were so blessed!  I encourage you to read Deuteronomy chapters 6 and 11.  In chapter 6 God says,

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

And then again in chapter 11, 

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,"

God wanted the Israelites to not forget what He had done for them, to keep His commandments, and pass this on to their children.  We are to remember God's faithfulness and blessings, to obey Him, and to teach our children about what He has done!

I used the nature hike as an opportunity to teach my children more about God.  As we walked the trails in the woods, I talked to my kids about His creation and how He reveals Himself through His creation.  Romans 1:19-20 tells us this,

"since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

And Romans goes on to teach us to say thank you to God for all He has done!  You can also read Acts 14:15-17 and 17:24-30 regarding God making Himself known to us through His creation.  

This is where I stopped.  Later, I realized I also could have talked to them about how He has been faithful to our family.  How He has cared for us, provided for us, walked with us through hard times.  I could have also taken this time to remember and point out the ways He has worked in our lives and to say thank you together to Him for all these things!  But, I did not miss an opportunity because I can be doing that all the time, "when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:7)

So for this month's idea, if you haven’t already, go take a hike, and talk to your children about God’s creation.  Then, talk to them throughout the week about His faithfulness in your family.  Talk to them about what Jesus did for us.  And most importantly remember to give Him thanks!


Jenny Wilson