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Today is the day! It’s time to tackle The Love Dare for Parents summer challenge head on!
I took some time over the weekend to read the author’s preface and introduction, and I’m already feeling inspired! A few things I took away from those two sections:
*Children are both our inheritance AND our legacy. They are a gift from the Lord and they are what we send into the future.
*The time we have with our children is fleeting. As the authors, Alex and Stephen Kendrick, say about the time we have with our children before they turn 18:
Moms and dads too often squander this priceless ocean of opportunities while chasing momentary pleasures and pennies in the sand.
There is an awesome, and at the same time terrifying, app called Legacy Countdown. When you enter your child’s graduation date, it lets you know how much more time you have before they leave home. Go ahead. Do it. And have a paper bag nearby for when you realize how short the time is and, in turn, hyperventilate.
*Love is a choice, and it must be made even when we don’t think we can choose it one more time. I’m pretty sure you and I will be greatly challenged by at least one of the love dares over the forty days. We’ll be tired and stressed or at the end of the ropes with one of the kids. And we’ll still be challenged to choose love.
This is a journey of exploring and demonstrating genuine love, even when your desire is dry and your motives are low.
*Don’t just learn it, do it. This is my favorite quote from the beginning and is something I need to apply in every area of my life:
The key is not what you learn but what you actually implement into your relationship with your children on a consistent basis. Truth transforms when it is correctly applied. Anytime you think, “I already know that,” you should follow it up with, “But do I do that?”
Let’s DO this thing, friends! Start with Day 1 today. Do one love dare each day. Don’t get discouraged if you miss a day or take more than one day to do a dare. Just do it and keep going and check back in right here next week!
If you don’t have your book yet, you can order it here and just start whenever you get it OR get the ebook and get started now!
One last thing: Will you join me in praying over this whole group of parents taking the challenge? This is no small thing we’re doing and we need prayers of strength and protection and grace to get us through! I’ll be praying for you every day!
Roll call! Leave a comment if you’re participating in The Love Dare for Parents challenge, tell us about your children, and if you have a blog where you’ll be posting about this, link to your blog as well!
I'm Erin, a wife, boy mom x 3, writer, and runner in Nebraska! I'm excited to share all my favorites relating to faith, family, fashion, and fitness in this space! Enjoy! 
Just wondering about ages of kids for the love dare-mine are 4 and 1. Would it work?
From what I’ve read, it can be used for kids of any age! I’m sure it will be great at least for your 4yo!
Here!! I have 2 little boys – 5 and almost 2. My husband has agreed to read the challenges with me each night (started yesterday). It’s nice to be working on the same goals together as parents. I’ll be posting on Mondays at my blog. Here’s today’s post:
http://www.rachelerinonline.com/2013/07/love-dare-for-parents.html
So happy you’re doing this with me, Rachel! And that your hubby is doing it as well! Here we go!
I have my book and I’m already to go. I read the Preface and Intro and it directs me to lovedaretest.com to take the assessment. But that link doesn’t show the assessment. Do you know of another link that works?
There should be a link at the top of that page that says “For Parents.” It just worked for me! Let me know if you don’t see it there and I’ll see what I can do!
I’m in! I have two boys ages 9 and 12. We are starting school this week so I am going to use this book as a way to really connect with them. I am going through a season of being tired as a mom and will be using this Challenge to really seek out nourishment from God plus to help regain the joy of mothering!
I love your take on this challenge and need the same thing here – joy, renewal, more of HIM! So glad to have you on board!
HERE!! I have one boy, age 6. This book is really going to help me I can tell. My son and I are exactly alike so we’ve already started butting heads. This couldn’t have come at a better time!!!!
I totally understand the head-butting! Praying for your relationship with him as you take on this dare!
Yay! Here we go! My hubby and I are starting tonight! We have two boys, 4 1/2 and 2 ( next week)!
Awesome, Kristie! Love our enthusiasm! Makes me even more excited to get going!
I’m definitely going to do this.
Great, Jessica! Praying for you and your journey through this now!
we have 3 boys, 2- 2 1/2 and one 7 months….. need to get the book but didnt know if timing was right with their ages…… but so looking fwd to doing this!
Since a lot of the challenge is about us as the parents, I think you will still find it relevant to your stage of life! So happy you’re joining in!
Thanks Erin,
I was at a different website. I got it all figured out now 🙂
(except I can only enter one of my children into the site – for the countdown until 18 yrs)
small challenge for today LOL
I am in and very nervous about it. I have swayed very far from the church so even just beginning on this journey is fueling my anxiety. My book is in route so I will have a bit of catching up to do. I have 2 kids a 7 year old girl and an 11 year old boy.
Tania, I am SO glad you are joining us! I’m pretty nervous about this whole journey as well, but I’m trusting God to get me through the hard changes I need to make! I’m praying for you right now and will continue to throughout the challenge! And don’t worry about catching up – just start when it comes and do one a day! No pressure art all, just love and accountability here!
Hi Erin,
I’m looking forward to this journey and to seeing the amazing things God will be doing in all of our families through this challenge. Thank you for inspiring it!
Blessings dear one,
Kelly – God’s Writer Girl
Yay Kelly! Thanks for your encouragement!
I’ve decided to do it! I stay home with my 3 1/2 year old daughter and 8 year old daughter. We started homeschooling halfway through last school year and it’s been quite a transition. A lot more on my plate and a lot less down time. I found myself getting short (especially with my exuberant and strong willed 3 year old!) a lot more after we started. This will be a great reminder for me. I do have a blog sarahsjoys.com and I may post about the challenge from time to time. Thanks for getting this started! 🙂
I did end up doing a post about a teachable moment I had yesterday, thanks to the challenge. You can find it at: http://sarahsjoys.com/2013/07/16/the-i-have-to-start-loving-our-kids-now-challenge/