Sometimes when children make mistakes and they face their parents’ ire, they may feel they are permanently damaged. Here is a lesson that teaches otherwise. Time for some FHE Fun!
Opening Song: #110 Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord
Opening Prayer: By invitation.
Time to Celebrate. What happy moments did your loved ones have this past week? You might take a moment to celebrate successes. This way your children will notice they do have strength sufficient to face challenges and to serve others.
Emergency Prep Minute. Just a little bit of weekly preparation can empower your children as they mature. What emergency tip do you want to share with your family this week?
Favorite Scripture Time. When kids and adults share favorite scriptures, you help encourage joy in scripture reading. You can include a few moments at the beginning of each week’s FHE to help bring the spirit and to settle the children for the lesson.
Activity. We offer a suggested FHE activity, but do feel free to choose what you feel is most suited to your family’s needs this week. And if you have young children, feel free to adapt. Here are a few ideas you might try with your family…or you may have a different lesson to teach. Regardless of the method, enjoy this weekly time with your loved ones!
Items Needed:
- Scriptures
- Invite a volunteer to come to the front and after taking a few steps, deliberately fall down.
- Invite another volunteer to come forward, do a pushup, then deliberately fail at doing a second one.
- Invite another volunteer to sit in a chair, then pretend to fall off of it.
After the giggles have settled down, you can quiet them by having someone read this scripture:
“I can do all things through aChrist which bstrengtheneth me.”
What does the activity have to do with the scripture? Listen to their responses.
Then you may want to have them look at the activity in a slightly different light, asking: What did these three activities have in common? After listening to the delightful ideas, you may want to read this question a youth sent into the New Era magazine:
“I feel like I have to be perfect all the time. I’m always thinking I could’ve done better. When I make a mistake, I feel guilty. Are my expectations for myself too high?”
What answers would your family give this person?
Here are a few other thoughts your family might benefit from discussing:
- What is the difference between A) trying to fail, and B) trying to do good yet still making mistakes? Enjoy their responses. You might then share the principles President Hinckley taught, as quoted in the New Era article. And here is one idea the New Era staff gave: “While it is important to live righteously, the Lord does not expect us to achieve perfection in mortality.”
- What happens when we cease to try?
What can the family learn from having experienced this lesson? As they share thoughts, petition the Spirit to be with you so you can hear beyond what they are saying by focusing on sensing what their hearts are feeling.
You may want to close by sharing your testimony or your love with them, reminding them that through Christ all things are possible…even changing bad habits or learning new ways. Through Christ, it is never too late to change.
Perhaps finish by reading this scripture once more time:
“I can do all things through aChrist which bstrengtheneth me.”
Closing Song: #265 Arise O God and Shine
Closing Prayer: By invitation.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- To read the responses to the “mistakes” question above, here is the link to the New Era article, “”Q&A: Questions and Answers”, New Era, Sep. 2007, 14–16.
May you have a powerful “family week”!
C.S. Bezas obtained a degree in Communications, with an emphasis in training programs and human resource development. Struggling with your teens? C.S. Bezas’ book is an essential help for parents and youth leaders. Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers teaches you how to create long-lasting change. Visit your local LDS bookstore or get your copy online here.
