Ashleigh Whaley
Don’t let fear prevent you from using your senses to create a happy family.
The sense of touch has been given to us to enhance our well being. With the words ‘social distancing’ now part of our lives, I fear that this could have a negative impact upon our well being…
A hug speaks a thousand words and everyone needs human touch, especially children.
Children are highly sensory individuals, very much alive to their senses; touch, smell, sight, sound, and taste. In order to bring up happy, well-adjusted and healthy children, we need to know how to use our 5 senses, to enhance our family dynamics…
As children are creatures of ‘action’, they use their senses to convey their emotions. -You can use your five senses to create happier children.
Expressions you can Feel:
Hugging a child helps them feel better, immediately. We activate their happiness, through hugging…
Studies have shown that children who are hugged do better at school and cope with life more easily, than those who are not shown any physical demonstrations of love.
Sadly, modern society has led to a decrease in the number of times we hug our children…When they are sad, scared or needy we now tend to hand them a device, to calm them down, instead of giving them a hug and holding them closely. Many children are growing up deprived of appropriate physical contact.
Perhaps nothing communicates love as much as an authentic hug; and nothing is more respectful than a hearty handshake.
Greeting your child with a hug and a smile will make them feel their importance to you.
Jesus believed in touch because He knew that people need touching.
‘And He took the children in His arms, laid His hands on them and blessed them’. (Mark 10: 16)
Alan, an orphan we took in many years ago, thrives on hugs, which help him feel accepted… We share big hugs with him, whenever we see him and I feel very honored, both to give and receive his hugs.
2. Expressions you can Smell.
Pleasure often comes through our sense of smell. Experts say that our sense of smell stimulates memories more profoundly than any other senses. Use the surprise of fragrance to show offerings of love. For example, have a freshly brewed pot of coffee prepared, for when Dad wakes up, or take a sweet smelling bunch of flowers to a special friend.
3. Expressions you can See.
Another genuine expression of love and respect comes from the tone of your voice. Teach your children to use their voices
intentionally, considerate of the situation they are in. People will feel respected, as well as drawn into their conversation.
4. Expressions you can Hear.
Another genuine expression of love and respect comes from the tone of your voice. Teach your children to use their voices
intentionally, considerate of the situation they are in. People will feel respected, as well as drawn into their conversation.
5. Expressions you can Taste.
‘The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’. There is some truth in this, however, it’s not just applicable to men. Jesus often fed people and dined with them. There is something about good food and drink that sweetens relationships. One creative way to express love and respect is to prepare tasty delights.
Encourage your children to be creative and think up new ways of giving treats, in order to communicate love and appreciation to others. I love to put a piece of chocolate onto my children’s desks, at odd times, just to encourage them and show my love. Thoughtful gifts from the heart make love tangible.
Children need to learn loving and respectful ways to stay in touch with other humans.
The most important lesson you can teach your child about love and respect is that it is returned in proportion to how it is given. The more loving a person is towards others, the more loved that person will be. The same goes for respect, regardless as to whether the other person is worthy of respect.
Love and respect comes back to you:
‘Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’. (Luke 6:38)
When I make the effort to smile and look my children in the eye, with my hands gently touching them, whilst saying; ‘I love you and I think you are great’, I always get an immediate change in their expression and demeanor. Try it (regardless of their age) and you will see what I mean.
If you feel prompted to give your child, husband, or anyone else, a hug or a gift, do it! Follow those promptings in your heart, because the Lord will lead you to do these things. God speaks to us directly through His promptings and, this way, He has made it easy for us to discern His will.
A Final Reminder from God.
Remember what Jesus said:
‘Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.” (John 10:17)
If you are a parent, you love each one of your children equally. However, when one of them does something special for you, out of love, it touches your heart and you just want to run to him/her and hug them close. That was what happened at the cross, except that the Father could not embrace His Son. Instead, He had to turn His back on His Son, because our sins had to be punished in His Son’s body.
When you cry out to the Father for help today, know that He hears you and will surely help you. Because of Jesus, He will never turn His back on you!
Be awesome parents and take action -and remember, your actions often speak louder than words!
‘We have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him’. (I John 4:16)
Read more about Godly parenting in this post, “Homeschool Your Child to Develop Godly Character.”
Thought For The Day:
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, please reveal to me how I can demonstrate and model Your love to my child, so that it will be clearly understood. Help my children to easily communicate love to others as they come to fully understand the depth of Your love for them. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Please leave your comments below…….
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