I remember when I started this blog. It was a secret at first because I just wanted it to be for me and my daughter. But maybe inside I knew I wanted it to be something more. I have a vivid memory of sitting there on wordpress.com trying URL after URL. I wanted something clever but that really gave the mission of the blog, too. And somehow, Impress Your Kids came to mind. It’s taken directly from Deuteronomy 6: 4-9
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
I just love this scripture because it’s really a mini-parenting manual. God tells us how to impress His Words and laws on our kids’ hearts. First of all, we should just talk about them all the time, everywhere we go. He also says we should write them on the door frames of your houses.
Many Jewish people take this literally and put up a mezuzah by their front door (actually, now that I think about it my parents have one by their front door!) and some may even go overboard as a legalistic thing-you-gotta-do. Regardless, I love the idea and have really made an effort to put God’s Word up all over our house!
The main way I do this is just by scripture banners or posters. If we are memorizing or talking about a scripture, we make a banner for it. Or if I’m not feeling crafty, we just write it on a big piece of paper and put it on the bulletin board. And my kids can’t even read. But I can. And I have to pass that banner 500 times a day, so I read it. And I say it and they copy me. They hear it and memorize it.
Here are some of my favorite banners and posters we’ve made:
1. Apple Print Banner 2. Fingerpaint & Stickers 3. Star Mini-Posters
4. Ant Banner 5. Prayer Banners 6. Watercolor Poster
I’m not a great interior designer, but as I do look at art and knick-knacks for my house, I tend to lean to things that have scripture on them. Not Christian platitudes or clever sayings, but God-breathed words.Β I’ve got lots of favorite shops that do this and have compiled them on a Pinterest Board for you. Make sure you follow it and click over to their shops–they have such passionate hearts AND beautiful art!
Follow ohAmanda’s board God’s Word on Your Walls on Pinterest.
Of course, you could plaster your house with God’s Word and they could be easy to ignore, they might just blend into the scenery. But if you put them up with intention (and ask God to remind you), these banners, pictures, canvases and posters can be a gentle reminder as you walk around your house to talk to your children of the things of God.
Do you have scripture hanging somewhere in your house?
Leigh says
I love putting God’s Word up in the house – it is so encouraging to ME to look up in the middle of a temper tantrum (mine!) and see “Do everything without arguing or complaining…” π And I like getting creative to make it beautiful, too! I had a friend once tell me she thought it was cheesy to put scripture up in the house, and it made me sad to hear that… it doesn’t have to be plain or twee – but a carefully chosen word from the Lord can become a source of daily encouragement! The bonus is that the kids are surrounded by God’s Word and see us enjoying it, too – just as you said you say the verse out loud when you pass it… you AND they are learning it.
ohamanda says
Yes! And that makes me think maybe “do everything without complaining or arguing” is the next verse I need to put up! π
Janet says
this is very timely, because last week our family spent a few days with a family we are friends with, in another town. We had never seen their house before. I was quite surprised at how many scripture passages they have pasted around their house… on the kitchen cupboards, in the bathroom, everywhere. Something I want to do … what a great reminder for all of us!
ohamanda says
Sounds awesome! I know I want to do more in my house. π
DesirΓ© says
This is something we started doing in our family about a year and a half ago. I’m not always good at recalling the verses I’ve committed to memory when I’m “in the thick of it.” It’s been wonderful for us. Right now I’ve got Ecc. 7:14 in our kitchen (When times are good, be happy, but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other). It helps me regain perspective when my tantrum throwing 2 year old is about to drive me over the edge. Caroline Boykin has a great idea in her book The Well-Versed Family to write down a verse and put it in a sandwich baggie and then get the bag a little bit wet. It sticks to the wall in the shower! I love this and it helps me get my head on straight before I start my day! π
ohamanda says
Love those ideas! The shower is awesome! And now I need to check out the Well Versed Family!
Thanks for the comment!
a
ohamanda says
PS: I’ve been meaning to introduce myself since it appears we have a very similar heart and almost the same blog name! π
DesirΓ© says
Ha! Yes! It’s hard to beat a Dt. 6 theme for a blog on parenting! It’s very nice to meet you π and we love your site! We’ve got a couple of your ideas tucked away as springboards for future posts that we can’t wait to share with everyone. And I’m obsessed with your 4 Friends and a Man Who Couldn’t Walk video. My oldest LOVES that story and requests that I read it to him all the time… so it’s in the plan to make one of those cardboard puppies up soon. And I also love, love, love your Easter ideas (especially the one with the basket and the rocks!) Thanks for all of your great ideas!
Cha Cha says
I have this as one of my “maybe”post ideas. I love that your heart is longing for the same things.
Cha Cha
Amy says
I keep thinking of doing this and keep putting it off. I really have to buckle down. Time is going so fast!
ohamanda says
I KNOW. There’s so much good stuff out there!
a
Jenna says
I love having Scripture in my home, but need to be more diligent with it. We have a huge gold framed chalkboard in our dining room that I generally have a verse written on. Such a good reminder. I had a friend who had Scripture on the mirror of her bathroom so she and her guests would see it. We we bought our home there were mezuzahs installed by our front door and on the door frame of each of the bedrooms – I’ve thought about removing them, but maybe I’ll keep them after all. And since I’m apparently writing a book in your comments {!} I LOVE the #2 art you showed. I remember seeing it before, and always wanted to do it. Didn’t realize that was from this blog until just now. The end. π
SleepyKnitter says
Love your website! I read it but don’t often post.
My favorite passage of Scripture, Phil. 4:4-7, was printed on a banner that hung over my mom’s desk, which was across from where I sat at the breakfast and dinner table. I read that verse over and over again during my growing up years without really intending to, and it just became a part of my thinking.
Regarding your comment about Scripture around the house “just becoming a part of the scenery,” another Scripture-minded blogger has written that she frequently changes the posters, banners, or whatever, so that the kids’ eyes are automatically drawn to the new words and images.
Also, regarding the idea of Scripture in the shower — I haven’t tried this yet but have been told that photocopy ink does not “run” in water, so a passage can be written on a paper and photocopied, and the photocopy can be taped to the shower wall. That’s actually a “study” tip from my school days rather than a “Scripture memorization” tip, but I would think it would work just as well for Scripture as for science facts. π
Blessings,
Sleepy