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SLW Story 2
The Gift of Love
By Michelle Cox
When Mother's Day approaches, children and dads begin their
search for the perfect gift to show Mom how much they care.
With three little boys, I've been the recipient of many gifts.
Some have been thoughtful, some have been unusual, and
some have made me laugh.
Many of those gifts are in my treasure chest of cherished
keepsakes. There are handwritten gift certificates for five-
minute back rubs, washcloths with tiny painted handprints
captured for a lifetime, and adorable handmade cards and
letters drawn just for Mom.
One gift in particular, though, is etched into my heart.
My husband and I wanted to teach our sons about the joy of
giving, so at an early age, they began earning the money to buy
their gifts. Of course, a toddler can't do big-boy jobs, but we
gave them age-appropriate tasks such as
picking up their toys. We had fun watching their excitement as
they saved their money for the big shopping day.
On the way to the mall, I pretended not to listen as the boys
whispered about what they planned to buy. "Mama, you'll have
to go to another part of the mall while we shop so you won't
see what we buy for you," my oldest son piped up.
We agreed to meet at a particular store in an hour, and my
husband headed into the mall with three excited little boys
clutching their shopping money.
I arrived at the store in time to see my husband helping our
three-year-old, Jason, pay for his purchase. I stepped back
where he couldn't see me so I wouldn't ruin his surprise.
While his dad waited for the receipt, Jason sat down on the
floor holding his prized purchase. As I watched, enjoying the
animated expression on his sweet little face, he opened the new
billfold, pulled the last dollar bill out of his pocket, carefully
folded it and placed it inside.
The years have passed and I no longer have the billfold, but I
still have that dollar bill, and the memory of my precious little
boy tucking love into that billfold will remain with me forever.
And once again I am reminded that each day as a mom is God's
special gift to me.
SLW Story 1
Starting Early
by Michelle Cox
“Honey, what are you doing?” My husband had a big grin on
his face as he asked the question.
I was sitting on the floor with our son propped in his car seat
in front of me. A little sheepishly, I replied, “I’m telling him a
Bible story.”
“He’s just an infant, honey. I don’t think he can understand
you.”
“Well…I was thinking the other day that I don’t know when
he will be old enough to understand. I don’t want there to ever
be a time in his life when he doesn’t know about God so I'm
not taking any chances.”
My husband hugged me. “That’s a good point. Keep telling
those stories.”
When our son turned two, I began teaching him Bible verses.
In his sweet little voice, Genesis 1:1 became, "In the ginning,
God arated the Kevin and the rearth. Geneis 1:1."
Okay, I realize he didn’t have it perfect, but he was two
years old and he already knew that in the beginning there was
God. I figured that was a great starting point.
I was amazed at the scripture my tiny son was able to learn
over the next few months. Here are a few tips we learned that
might help your family:
• Choose simple verses or portions of a verse.
• Don’t attempt to teach verses when your child is tired or isn’t
feeling well.
• Stay with one verse until your child has learned it completely.
• Repetition is the key. Make the process fun and repeat the verse
at odd times throughout the day—at breakfast or the dinner table, in
the car while running errands, and when tucking your child into bed.
• Be sure to praise your child and celebrate whenever he or she
memorizes a new verse.
The Gift of Love
By Michelle Cox
When Mother's Day approaches, children and dads begin their
search for the perfect gift to show Mom how much they care.
With three little boys, I've been the recipient of many gifts.
Some have been thoughtful, some have been unusual, and
some have made me laugh.
Many of those gifts are in my treasure chest of cherished
keepsakes. There are handwritten gift certificates for five-
minute back rubs, washcloths with tiny painted handprints
captured for a lifetime, and adorable handmade cards and
letters drawn just for Mom.
One gift in particular, though, is etched into my heart.
My husband and I wanted to teach our sons about the joy of
giving, so at an early age, they began earning the money to buy
their gifts. Of course, a toddler can't do big-boy jobs, but we
gave them age-appropriate tasks such as
picking up their toys. We had fun watching their excitement as
they saved their money for the big shopping day.
On the way to the mall, I pretended not to listen as the boys
whispered about what they planned to buy. "Mama, you'll have
to go to another part of the mall while we shop so you won't
see what we buy for you," my oldest son piped up.
We agreed to meet at a particular store in an hour, and my
husband headed into the mall with three excited little boys
clutching their shopping money.
I arrived at the store in time to see my husband helping our
three-year-old, Jason, pay for his purchase. I stepped back
where he couldn't see me so I wouldn't ruin his surprise.
While his dad waited for the receipt, Jason sat down on the
floor holding his prized purchase. As I watched, enjoying the
animated expression on his sweet little face, he opened the new
billfold, pulled the last dollar bill out of his pocket, carefully
folded it and placed it inside.
The years have passed and I no longer have the billfold, but I
still have that dollar bill, and the memory of my precious little
boy tucking love into that billfold will remain with me forever.
And once again I am reminded that each day as a mom is God's
special gift to me.
SLW Story 1
Starting Early
by Michelle Cox
“Honey, what are you doing?” My husband had a big grin on
his face as he asked the question.
I was sitting on the floor with our son propped in his car seat
in front of me. A little sheepishly, I replied, “I’m telling him a
Bible story.”
“He’s just an infant, honey. I don’t think he can understand
you.”
“Well…I was thinking the other day that I don’t know when
he will be old enough to understand. I don’t want there to ever
be a time in his life when he doesn’t know about God so I'm
not taking any chances.”
My husband hugged me. “That’s a good point. Keep telling
those stories.”
When our son turned two, I began teaching him Bible verses.
In his sweet little voice, Genesis 1:1 became, "In the ginning,
God arated the Kevin and the rearth. Geneis 1:1."
Okay, I realize he didn’t have it perfect, but he was two
years old and he already knew that in the beginning there was
God. I figured that was a great starting point.
I was amazed at the scripture my tiny son was able to learn
over the next few months. Here are a few tips we learned that
might help your family:
• Choose simple verses or portions of a verse.
• Don’t attempt to teach verses when your child is tired or isn’t
feeling well.
• Stay with one verse until your child has learned it completely.
• Repetition is the key. Make the process fun and repeat the verse
at odd times throughout the day—at breakfast or the dinner table, in
the car while running errands, and when tucking your child into bed.
• Be sure to praise your child and celebrate whenever he or she
memorizes a new verse.