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    Spirituality for Our Children
    Spirituality for Our Children
    Spirituality for Our Children
    Ebook104 pages3 hours

    Spirituality for Our Children

    By Mary McElhone

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    About this ebook

    Spirituality for Our Children is simply written to help parents teach their children the basics about God. At the beginning of each chapter is a message to parents to help provide an understanding of what the chapter is about. Each chapter then uses a mix of short stories, activities, and meditations written for children to present the concept The meditations are themed, based upon the subject of the chapter. They are very simple, easy to follow and teach relaxation techniques. The words are read in a slow and relaxed manner while your children close their eyes and use their imagination to follow along. These meditations are also a great way to improve children s concentration skills. The activities and stories follow the same theme of the chapter to impress upon children the lesson to be learned. God is presented in a positive, loving way. The intent is for your children to build a relationship to our loving God while having fun.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHillcrest Media Group
    Release dateMar 2, 2015
    ISBN9781634134163
    Spirituality for Our Children

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      Book preview

      Spirituality for Our Children - Mary McElhone

      Acknowledgements

      Introduction

      Spirituality for Our Children is simply written to help your child learn about God. At the beginning of each chapter is a message to parents to help provide an understanding of what the chapter is about. By using stories, activities, and meditations, God is presented in a positive, loving way. The idea is to help children feel connected to a loving God to sustain them in their journey through life.

      If you find an idea that does not feel comfortable, move on to another that does. Take what feels right from this book and embrace it into your own belief system. Most of all, make it fun and loving.

      My motivation to write this book started years ago. When my beloved father passed away in 1995 I was deeply saddened, but with my strong faith I believed he was in heaven. I had just switched jobs, and two weeks later I went back to see my old coworkers who were very sympathetic.

      However, one of them in her effort to comfort me said, It has just got to be awful to know that this is it. They are gone and you are never going to see them again.

      To which I quickly responded, Oh, I do believe that I will see him again.

      When I left, I felt more troubled by her lack of belief, than for the loss of my father. I began to imagine how she would feel one day when her parents, who were still alive, passed away. I had felt such comfort in the last two weeks, knowing that he went to a better place. I promised myself that my children would firmly know about God. When they became adults, they would obliviously make their own choices, but it was my responsibility to make sure that they had a basis of faith in God. We were Catholic, but we became much more active. I started teaching my son’s religious education classes and really prayed and talked with our children about God.

      My husband and I were fortunate that we were both raised Catholic, so a foundation had been with us since birth. However, I looked around and noticed many people just did not grow up in a faith. No one laid the foundation for them, or the religion they grew up in just did not bond with them. So how does one get started, without throwing in all of particulars of organized religion? I wondered.

      The answer is this book. This is where you start. It is a stepping stone; Spirituality 101, if you will. Although you will find overtones of Christianity, it is nondenominational. I hope your own spirituality grows as your child has fun learning about God.

      Meditations

      I started doing mediations with my children when they were young. They enjoyed it more than being read story books. Throughout the chapters are many different meditations. All you have to do is read the Introduction to Meditation below and continue with the meditations found within the different chapters. These meditations are very simple and easy to follow. You basically read the words in a slow and relaxed manner while your children close their eyes and use their imagination to follow along. You can also make a recording and do the meditations along with your child. Meditating is a great way to improve concentration and relax. Most of all, since God speaks to us best when we are silent, meditation is a great way to connect with God.

      Helpful Hints for Meditating

      Don’t try meditating when your child is really tired, unless it is your intent to use meditation as a way of helping your child fall asleep. (Yes, this can work wonders for night owls.)

      Show children which finger is their pointer finger (index finger) as they will be asked during meditation exercises to raise this finger when they are ready to move on.

      If you do not use the Introduction to Meditation in this section, say a small prayer of guidance, such as I am a child of God’s light, I am protected and guided all the time, or May my guardian angel wrap wings of love and protection around me for guidance and help. This assures children that there is nothing to be afraid of. They are protected and loved.

      Explain that, to help relax, they should breathe in slowly through their nose and out through their mouth. You can demonstrate this beforehand by breathing in for a count of three, holding for a second and then out for a count of six. You can count for them; however, I have found that it often confuses them. A few practice rounds of breathing may help give them the idea before you begin.

      Practice makes perfect. The more they meditate, the easier it will be to visualize, relax, and connect.

      If you practice meditations with children at the same time every day (or weekly), their bodies will get accustomed to this time, and it will be easier for them to settle in.

      Have them sit or lie comfortably.

      Do not discount or disbelieve what they tell you about their meditation experience. You may not understand it, but most likely, there is a reason for it.

      As you read the meditations, pause for a moment during the breaks in the sentences.

      Most of all, make it fun. Make up your own meditations or change them according to your child’s interest. My daughter loved horses, so I used to make up meditations of her and her horse going on fun rides in exciting places, like along the beach.

      Introduction to Meditation

      Get comfortable and relax. Listen to the words and follow along in your mind. Before we start, take a nice big stretch. Put your arms up in the air, above your head and reach for the sky. Put one arm down and, with the other arm, slowly reach way out as far as you can. Then put that arm down and do the same with the other arm. After you have put your arms down, gently roll your neck in one direction and then the other. Now, find a comfortable position and allow your muscles to rest. We are ready to begin.

      Slowly breathe in and out and make your body be very still and quiet . . . slow down your breathing . . . as you feel yourself relax, close your eyes . . . slowly breathe in and out . . . relax . . . and let all your worries float away . . . breathe in and out . . . if you haven’t closed your eyes yet, go ahead and close them . . . breathe in and out . . . imagine above your head a bright white

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