* Family Night is a designated night, once a week, where you sit down with your family…have a lesson, an activity, and a treat. It’s a great way to spend time together as a family and teach your children about the important things they don’t learn in school. *
I put together this lesson on forgiveness because there are so many angry people in the world! I want my children to realize it is a choice they are making to be resentful and it’s also a choice to forgive. You are hurting yourself far worse, by not forgiving others. Being an understanding, loving, forgiving person = a happier person. It’s pretty simple.
Forgiving Others
Preparation & Treat: Go outside and gather 10-20 slightly heavy rocks. You can wash them if you need to. Lay them in a pile in the middle of the family room. You will also need a piece of paper and pencil for each person attending Family Night. Print off the story, A Pocket Full of Rocks. Make a treat for afterwards….how about these super yummy lemon bars that will make you so happy?
Super Yummy Lemon Bars
2 cups sifted flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter
4 large beaten eggs
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 TBS. grated lemon zest
Directions: For the crust, mix the softened butter into the flour and powdered sugar with your hands (or a pastry blender) until it clings together. Press the mixture into a 13×9″ greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes or until lightly golden. For the filling, beat the eggs with a hand mixer for about 5 minutes until frothy. Add the sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice. In another bowl, sift together flour and baking powder. Stir into egg mixture. Pour over the baked, warm crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Done!
Lesson/Activity: Go around the room and have everybody name off the things that really bug them (pet peeves). For example, some of mine: People that ask you a question and then make it obvious they’re not listening, people that lie, people that don’t stand up for themselves, people that talk in that fake-happy voice and never stop, etc. After everyone names off some things they should be feeling slightly grouchy…perfect for the next part!
Pass around a paper and pencil to everyone and have them write down the names of anyone that annoys them, makes them mad, or they just dislike. Obviously, these papers need to be private…so they can write a code word if they don’t want anyone to know the name. After everyone is done, have them go pick up a rock (hopefully, they are slightly heavy) for every single name and hold it on their lap for the rest of the lesson.
Read the story “Pockets of Rocks” while everyone has the rocks on their lap. When you are finished, tell them how the rocks represent the grudges they are currently holding against people. Ask them if they are feeling the weight of their rocks. Ask, “What’s wrong with holding a grudge?” Discuss. Explain how we are trying to get revenge and hurt them back by not forgiving…but, “Who does that REALLY hurt??” Talk about ways to eliminate anger and resentment (doing service for the person, learning more about that person, etc.) Ask, “How do we know when we really have forgiven someone?” Discuss.
Tell everyone that they must keep their rocks, somewhere that they will constantly see them. Ask them to work on forgiving the people on their list. When they have loving feelings towards that person and have forgiven them, they can throw their rock out.
Eat your treats!!
Mariel
Owner & Author at Or so she says...
Mariel (mahr-eeee-elle) is a mother to six, wife to one. Loves homeschooling, golfing, cupcakes, traveling, cuddling, non-fiction books, gardening, James Taylor, family time, and a sexy wedge. This is her blog. Enjoy!
@orsoshesays
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This is seriously going to be given for a month straight! Thank you for the idea!!!!
What a wonderful way to teach forgiveness!! I think this would have a much bigger impact (with the rocks) than a discussion alone. (YUM..lemon bars are my favorite
Thank you!!
Lisa B.
I’m loving it! Plus I’m totally in a baking mood today so I think I’ll surprise my family with the lemon bars tonight – my hubby thanks you in advance
You had me at lemon bars.
Oh what a great family night lesson…oh and the lemon bars…I am in heaven!
Great idea! We’ve been running low on ideas, so we’ll do this one for sure. I love that I have everything for the lemon bars also. Thanks!
Keep those family lessons coming! As a young mom with small children I am inspired to do this. Thank you, thank you!
Wow, what a very powerful lesson! My girls are very young right now but I will need to remember this when they get older. Thank you.