In the world our children face, there are few who will truly love them or watch out for them. How important it is, then, that as a family we stand side-by-side, strengthening each other. This simple FHE lesson helps teach a very powerful principle. Time for some FHE Fun!
Opening Song: #294 Love at Home (sing all three verses)
Opening Prayer: By Invitation.
Devotional: Share the following: “Each of you deserve to feel the presence of the Holy Ghost in your life. It's why we encourage private scripture study as a family. As you read your scriptures during the week, the Lord will be able to better help you and heal hurt feelings, etc. Does anyone have a scripture they'd like to share that could help us all?"
Activity:
Read the following scripture: “Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversations, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings” (D&C 108:7).
PART A: Then call one person up to stand by you in front of the family. Take their hand, look them in the eye, and tell them in specifics why they matter to you. Say, “You matter to me because __________.” Then say something to the effect of, “And guess what I've noticed? You take very good care of our dog, Butch.” In other words, point out a sincere contribution they make to the family.
Then it's their turn. They call someone up to the front. They take them by the hand (yes, even if it feels awkward) and look them in the eye while saying, “You matter to me because ____________. And I've noticed that you are really good at helping us ______________.”
Continue this until all family members have joined the circle. The final one to come up will then do the same thing for you, the person who started it all. (Remember, kindness does “start at home,” but it can take awhile to learn to be kind.)
PART B: Now go for a second round, but in the opposite direction. You'll notice most likely while it was awkward at first to say such nice and intimate things to each other, that the second round will feel more natural.
Once everyone has had a chance to look their “neighbor” in the eye and share these two statements (“You matter to me because _______; and I've noticed that you are really good at __________________”), have them sit down.
Application:
Each child of God deserves to feel loved, to feel safe in their own home, to feel that they matter. That partly what the scripture above teaches. Thus, let each one of your family members know how important they are to God's plan now. They have individual gifts and talents in a combination that no-one else has.
Vow as a family to make the home feel safer to everyone. Ask for ideas how to do it. Encourage family members to “pick” at each other less, to express love more and to remember that each one matters a great deal to the whole family. And for fun during the closing song below, see if you can sing all three verses changing the word “I” to “you”, such as “YOU are a child of God, and He has sent YOU here…” It's a fun change-up on a powerful song.
Closing Song: #301 I Am a Child of God
Closing Prayer: By Invitation.
