‘Children should be thankful for their mothers and show them gratitude every day, not just on Mother’s Day. CEF helps teach kids how to honor and respect their mothers well.’
ST. LOUIS — Mother’s Day serves as an occasion for children to express their appreciation for all that their mothers do for them, yet this can take some guidance.
“Gratitude does not always come naturally,” said Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) Vice President of Administration Fred Pry. “It needs to be taught. Besides, children should be thankful for their mothers and show them gratitude every day, not just on Mother’s Day.
“CEF helps teach kids how to honor and respect their mothers. The core message is to recognize and appreciate those who love and care for us, which also includes God,” Pry added.
In a CEF teach kids article, “Guide Kids in Honoring Others on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day,” adults learn how to process their own feelings before the throne of grace so they can effectively teach kids about how to honor mothers.
CEF suggests coming up with a personal plan for how to teach kids about this special day. Words of encouragement are one of the best gifts a parent can receive, so a ‘thank you’ card made by your child is a great way to make a mother feel treasured.
For their words of encouragement, kids need to focus on two things: gratitude and affirmation. Gratitude is the easiest one because kids should be able to think of all the things their parents do for them. They can make a list and think about what kind of character qualities a person must have to be able to do all these things. Character is the result of godly choices, and we all need to learn to affirm godly character in others.
Another CEF teach kids article, “Gratitude for Mothers,” has an abundance of ideas about how to encourage children to honor their mothers. God promises children that if they honor their parents, God will give them a special blessing (Exodus 20:12). Learning to acknowledge that kind of selfless love and service will help children recognize and appreciate those who love them like God does: unconditionally.
Gratitude for mothers is important: Kids need to be taught to recognize what others do for them, to say thank you, and to show gratitude for mothers and for everyone in their life who helps them to grow and develop.
Mothers often create the bonds of community: One of the unsung virtues of moms is that they are instrumental in forming community and family ties. Spending positive time together goes a long way in helping kids feel loved and accepted.
Mothers can form the foundation of the home: Many kids are edgy, stressed, depressed and unmotivated while struggling under the weight of today’s pressures. They benefit from a mother’s love — the kind of love that perseveres, sacrifices, and gives with a heart that wants what’s best for her child.
A mother’s love reflects God’s love: Godly mothers reflect the kind of love that God gives us — it’s unconditional, and time and distance don’t diminish it.
Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), which was founded 88 years ago, has been establishing the Good News Club® in countries around the world for decades. Clubs are thriving worldwide, in countries including Australia, Cambodia, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, and many more.
In 2023, through the combined ministries of CEF, more than 25.2 million children worldwide heard the Good News. More than 577,000 teachers were trained around the world.
For more CEF news, see the ministry’s latest edition of the online magazine Impact.
CEF is an international, nonprofit, Christian ministry that has been dedicated to seeing every child reached with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, discipled, and established in a local church since 1937. CEF is located in all 50 American states and in most countries around the world, with over 3,500 paid staff and tens of thousands of volunteers around the world.
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To interview a representative from Child Evangelism Fellowship, contact [email protected], Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.