We contribute to our family. We contribute at our work. We contribute in our church. We contribute in our society. We want our children to grow up in a world that is not centered around them. A world where they work hard and are rewarded for their good honest work. We don't want to cripple them into believing the world is centered around them and they are entitled to hand outs. We want to prepare them for what truly lies ahead. We don't want them to be surprised and never question why their parents weren't honest with them.
Flash forward to now.....we haven't been so good at filling up our charts over the last few months. Honestly, I got tired of drawing the grid every week. I wanted them to get in the bed at night instead of having to "waste" one more moment sticking stickers on the "contribution" list. And to be quiet honest.....I have been frustrated with them and they in turn have been frustrated with me. I have been short with them where I should have extended grace. I have raised my voice when I should have gotten on their level and gotten to the heart of the matter. As I look back, I realize that my laziness and slack off has brought us all to this point of frustration with one another.
So....I pulled out my computer and popped open EXCEL and made this oh-so-simple "contributions" chart. I can't use the excuse, I don't want to or don't have the time to draw the grids across the page. That is such a lame excuse for not leading my children. I printed out a year's worth for our kids and all I have to do is fill in the "contribution" section. I like this method because their "contributions" are different based on their age and their struggles. I wanted the liberty to be able to add stuff and take stuff away as our children grow and mature.
At the end of everyday we go through their individual lists and if they completed their contributions they get a star sticker. Our contribution charts end every Saturday night. We sit in our kitchen floor and pull out our share, save, spend jars. If they have completed the majority of their contributions for the week they get coins to put in their jars. {This is really simple at this age. I don't have any method like if you get this many stars then you get this much money....Im sure someday it will get to that}.
We talk about their week, their contributions, and as they place their coins in their jars we talk about Jesus and how everything belongs to Him. We are fortunate enough to receive everything we have from Him and as a result of His provisions we are able to share, save and give. They love it! Their hearts and minds are impressionable at this stage and we want to work as hard as we can to impress deep truths into their lives now!
I'd love to share this chart with you. All you have to do is click {{HERE}} to download for free. It's super simple and nothing fancy. I am hoping this "contributions" chart will be a blessing to you as you strive to reduce the frustration around your home and lead your children.
“Know the state of your flocks,
and put your heart into caring for your herds”
~Proverbs 27:23
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