A Few of Their Favorite Things
Singing The Best Songs to God
Ask your kid(s), “What are your favorite things to do?” Encourage them to think about what they do throughout the day. Be sure to affirm each thing and ask follow-up questions about why that thing (or those things) is their favorite. Take a moment and tell your kid(s) about your favorite things to do. Why are those things your favorite?
Ask your kid(s) why did not clap when you read verse one: “Applause, everyone. Bravo, bravissimo!”
Explain that whenever we gather to worship, read the Bible, or do anything throughout the day, we have the opportunity to worship God. Singing praises to God, or as the psalmist wrote, “Sing songs to God, sing out! Sing to our King, sing praise!” is what we get to do all throughout the day.
Everything we do, especially our favorite things, is an opportunity to say “Thank you” to God or to offer praise and joy to God.
“Thank you, God, that I get to play baseball.”
“Thank you, God, that I get to spend time with my family.”
“Thank you, God, that I get to go to school and learn and play at recess.”
“Thank you, God, that I get to play soccer.”
“Thank you, God, that I get to go to the movies.”
“Thank you, God, that I get to have a church family.”
Explain that without God, none of what we do (the things we have to do and the things we get to do) can happen. God is the reason we have breath in our lungs and a family (biological, chosen, or church) that loves us. God is the reason we get to see birds play in birdbaths and eat popsicles on hot summer days after an all-day tournament. Without God, our praises are empty, our sermons make no sense, and our prayers go unheard. In everything we do, we can turn to God with a quick prayer or song of praise and say, “Thank you!”
Invite your child (children) to pray, repeating after you or inviting them to offer their own prayer.
Dear God, thank you for giving me a voice, and hands so that I can shout loud praises, so I can sing loudly, and so I can clap and say thank you. Thank you for my family and for always being with us. We’ll talk to you later. Amen.