This summer, one of my biggest personal goals is to do a better job of talking about Jesus and helping my kids grow in their Christian faith. I especially want to dig a little deeper with my two older kids, who are 5 and 7.5 years old. We will spend the summer learning about the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
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Each day, I plan to have a simple faith-based activity—a craft, coloring sheet, or conversation starter—that helps us explore different aspects of the Bible and learn more about Jesus together. I’m calling it “Our Daily Dose of Jesus.”
From a personal perspective, I also want to deepen my faith and gain a better understanding of different parts of the Bible. And I’m bringing my children along with me on that journey.
Kicking Off With Gratitude (and Donuts!)
Today’s activity started as a spur-of-the-moment kickoff, but it turned out so well that we decided to extend it through the week. We had a leftover donut craft from my son’s birthday party. It was a paper donut with sprinkles the kids could stick on—and they had kept it because they wanted to use it again. It ended up being the perfect foundation for today’s lesson on gratitude.
On the donut, I wrote at the top:
“I am grateful for…”
And along the bottom:
“Don’t be fooled. God is everywhere. Find joy in His creation.”
Using the sprinkle pieces, I wrote a few examples of things I’m grateful for. Then, throughout the day, the kids added their own ideas—writing them on sprinkles and sticking them onto the donut. We talked about how we would continue this activity throughout the week. We didn’t need to finish everything in one day. Instead, we’re taking our time to reflect and choose meaningful things we truly feel grateful for.
Building More Than Faith
This activity isn’t just helping us grow spiritually—it’s also reinforcing skills they’ll need for the coming school year. My daughter is practicing her spelling and independent writing. She’s also learning to help her younger brother, who’s five and still working on forming words. Sometimes she writes words on a separate sheet for him to copy, or she tells him the letters one by one so he can try spelling them himself. He also has the option to draw pictures of what he’s thankful for.
Our youngest, who’s two, can’t write yet—but he’s learning too. He’s starting to hear the language of gratitude, practice taking turns, and explore writing utensils in ways that match his development. Most importantly, his older siblings are showing him how to use markers and crayons on paper (instead of on the floor or walls—his current favorite surfaces to color on!).
Grateful Hearts, Guided by the Word
This project has opened the door to so many teachable moments—not just about spelling and sharing, but about why we’re grateful, and what the Bible teaches us about gratitude.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
—Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NIV)
As we continue through the week, I plan to add more Bible verses about gratitude, teaching my kids that the Bible is our ultimate guide when we’re unsure or needing encouragement. While Bibles are translated and interpreted in different ways, they still serve as a powerful tool to help us understand God’s character and His will for our lives.
Join Us on This Journey
Join us as we continue this summer of faith-building through fun, hands-on activities. I hope that, by the end of the summer, I’ll be able to share a helpful resource with you—filled with creative ideas and strategies for weaving Bible lessons into everyday life with your children.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking for fresh inspiration, I’d love for you to join us on this journey. Let’s help our kids grow strong in faith, grateful in heart, and joyful in the Lord—all summer long.
Faith
Just like we’re adding sprinkles of gratitude to our donuts each day, we’re also learning that faith grows little by little—one intentional moment at a time. Being grateful helps us see the goodness of God all around us, even in the small things. It’s a reminder that His presence isn’t limited to big, miraculous moments, but is woven throughout our everyday lives. When we slow down to notice and give thanks, our hearts become more in tune with His.
“Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
—Colossians 2:7 (NIV)
Gratitude isn’t just a habit—it’s a way to deepen our relationship with Jesus. It opens our eyes to His faithfulness and reminds us that everything we have is a gift from Him. As we teach our children to pause and reflect on what they’re thankful for, we’re also helping them recognize how much God loves and provides for them.