#BeAccountable

"Accountability breeds response-ability." - Stephen Covey

#BeAccountable 

Dear Parents,

I hope this message finds you well. Today, I want to talk about a crucial trait that can significantly impact our families: accountability. It's a trait that guides us in being responsible for our actions and decisions, and it's fundamental in raising reliable, honest, and trustworthy children. In a world where responsibility is often passed on, teaching accountability at home sets our children up for success in all aspects of life.

Accountability is not just about admitting mistakes; it's about owning our actions, understanding their impact on others, and making conscious decisions to do better. This concept is deeply rooted in biblical teachings, where accountability is not only to oneself or others but also to God. We're shaping better individuals and contributing to a more responsible and ethical society by fostering this trait.

In this journey, we, as parents, play a pivotal role. Our actions, words, and the environment we create at home are the first lessons in accountability our children learn. It's about setting the right example, guiding them through their mistakes, and helping them understand the importance of being responsible for their actions. Let's dive into why this is so vital.

Why is this important?

• Fosters Honesty and Integrity: Children who learn accountability ' develop a strong sense of honesty and integrity. Proverbs 12:22 states, "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight."
• Builds Trust: When children are taught to be accountable, they learn the value of trust. Luke 16:10 teaches us, "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much."
• Encourages Personal Responsibility: Accountability teaches children to take responsibility for their actions. Galatians 6:5 says, "For each will have to bear his own load."
• Promotes Self-Discipline: Self-discipline is a natural outcome of accountability. Proverbs 25:28 notes, "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
• Strengthens Relationships: Accountability leads to healthier relationships, as noted in Ephesians 4:25, "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another."

Biblical Foundations

• Being accountable means being truthful and upright. Bible Scripture: Proverbs 11:3 - "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them."
• Accountability involves taking responsibility for one's actions. Bible Scripture: Romans 14:12 - "So then each of us will give an account of himself to God."
• In the Bible, accountability is often linked with stewardship. Bible Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:2 - "Moreover, it is required of stewards to be found faithful."
• Teaching accountability helps in avoiding sin and seeking forgiveness. Bible Scripture: 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
• Accountability fosters wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 13:1: "A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke."

Some Approaches to Consider

• Model Behavior: Show your children how you live by the principles of Proverbs 20:11, demonstrating the importance of living a life that reflects accountability.
• Set Expectations: Utilize Luke 16:10 to discuss how being faithful in small tasks leads to greater trust and responsibilities with your children.
• Encourage Ownership: Teach your children to take responsibility for their actions, as guided by Galatians 6:5, emphasizing the importance of personal accountability.
• Foster Open Communication: Encourage your children to openly communicate their feelings and thoughts, guided by Ephesians 4:25, to build a relationship based on trust and honesty.
• Practice Forgiveness: Teach your children the importance of seeking forgiveness and forgiving others, in line with 1 John 1:9, to understand the role of accountability in relationships. 

Activity Ideas

Early Childhood (Ages 3-7)

• Helping with Household Chores: Involve your children in simple household tasks, teaching them responsibility for their environment. Biblical Tie-In: Luke 16:10 - "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much."
• Storytelling with Moral Lessons: Share stories highlighting the importance of responsibility and accountability for one's actions. Biblical Tie-In: Proverbs 12:22 - "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy."
• Role-Playing Scenarios: Play role-playing activities where children learn to make responsible choices. Biblical Tie-In: Ephesians 4:25 - "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."
• Creating Responsibility Charts: Develop simple charts to track daily responsibilities teaching accountability. Biblical Tie-In: 1 Corinthians 4:2 - "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."
• Nature Appreciation Walks: Take walks in nature to appreciate the beauty of God's creation. Biblical Tie-In: Psalms 104:24—"O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures"—to encourage appreciation of the natural world.

 

Late Childhood (Ages 8-12)

• Volunteering Together: Engage in community service or volunteering activities to teach social responsibility. Biblical Tie-In: Galatians 6:2 - "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ."
• Bible Study Discussions: Discuss biblical characters and their examples of accountability. Biblical Tie-In: Romans 14:12 - "So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God."
• Creative Art Projects: Create art projects that reflect themes of honesty, integrity, and responsibility. Biblical Tie-In: Proverbs 25:28 - "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control."
• Financial Responsibility Exercises: Teach them about managing a small budget or savings, emphasizing financial accountability. Biblical Tie-In: Luke 16:10 - "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much."
• Planning and Hosting a Family Event: Let them plan and host a small family event, teaching them responsibility and organization. Biblical Tie-In: 1 Corinthians 4:2 - "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."

Adolescence (Ages 13-17)

• Community Leadership Projects: Encourage involvement in leadership roles in community projects or church groups. Biblical Tie-In: Proverbs 11:3 - "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them."
• Debate and Discussion Clubs: Participate in clubs where they can discuss ethical and moral issues, learning to be accountable for their viewpoints. Biblical Tie-In: Ephesians 4:25 - "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."
• Self-Reflection Journals: Encourage keeping a journal for self-reflection and personal accountability. Biblical Tie-In: 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
• Project Management: Assign them a project to manage, teaching them responsibility and accountability for its success or failure. Biblical Tie-In: Galatians 6:5 - "For each will have to bear his own load."
• Career Exploration Activities: Guide them in exploring various careers, emphasizing the importance of responsibility in professional life. Biblical Tie-In: Luke 16:10 - "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much."

Outside-the-Home Activities

• Nature Appreciation Walks: Embark on walks in nature, teaching appreciation for God's creation. Biblical Tie-In: Psalm 104:24 - "O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures."
• Community Service Projects: Participate in community service projects as a family, emphasizing the importance of serving others. Biblical Tie-In: Galatians 6:2 - "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
• Museum Visits: Visit museums to learn about history and culture, fostering a sense of responsibility towards heritage. Biblical Tie-In: Deuteronomy 4:9 - "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live."
• Family Prayer Walks: Engage in family prayer walks, focusing on praying for the community and others. Biblical Tie-In: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - "Pray without ceasing."
• Cultural Festivals: Attend cultural festivals as a family to understand and appreciate the diversity of God's creation. Biblical Tie-In: Revelation 7:9 - "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."

Conversation Starters

10 Questions You Can Ask Your Kids in the Car:

1. What does it mean to you to be responsible for your actions? 
2. How can we show accountability in our family? '
3. What's one way you were responsible today?
4. How do you feel when you keep your promises?
5. Why is it important to tell the truth?
6. Can you think of a time you learned from a mistake? 
7. What does the Bible say about being honest?
8. How can we help each other be more accountable?
9. What's one responsibility you're proud of handling well? '
10. How does being accountable make you feel closer to God?

10 Questions You Can Ask at the Dinner Table

1. How can we support each other in being accountable?
2. How do you think accountability helps us grow as individuals?
3. What's a Bible story that teaches about responsibility?
4. How can we show integrity in our daily lives?
5. What does being a trustworthy friend or family mean?
6. How can admitting our mistakes help us?
7. What are some consequences of not being accountable?
8. How does God want us to handle our responsibilities?
9. What's one goal you have for being more responsible?
10. How can our family work together to uphold our values 

10 Questions You Can Text Your Kids:

1. What's one responsible choice you made today?
2. How do you plan to show honesty this week?
3. What's a Bible verse about accountability that inspires you?
4. How can I help you with your responsibilities?
5. What does being accountable mean in your friendships?
6. Can you share an example of a time you learned from a mistake?
7. What's a goal you have for improving self-discipline?
8. How do you feel when you meet your responsibilities?
9. What's one way you showed integrity today?
10. How can faith guide us in being accountable?

Suggested Scripture for Additional Studies

• Proverbs 12:22 - Emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in our lives.  “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”
• Luke 16:10 - Highlights the significance of being faithful in small things to be trusted with more.  “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”
• Galatians 6:5 - Stresses our need for personal responsibility.  “For each will have to bear his own load.”
• Ephesians 4:25 - Encourages speaking truthfully, which is essential for building trust in relationships.  “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”
• 1 John 1:9 - Shows the importance of confessing sins and seeking forgiveness, an essential aspect of accountability.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Closing

As you reflect on the significance of accountability in our lives and our children's lives, let's remember that it's a journey of growth, understanding, and grace. Each step we take towards being more accountable strengthens our character and deepens our relationship with God. Let's embrace this trait with open hearts, understanding that it's not about perfection but progress.

The path to instilling accountability in your family may have its challenges, but the rewards are immense. As you guide your children, be open to learning and growing with them, recognizing that accountability is a lifelong process.

 Lastly, approach this trait with love and understanding, knowing that accountability is about building up, not tearing down. It's about learning from our mistakes, making amends, and moving forward with wisdom and grace. Hang in there, as we are all works in progress!

 

Yours in Christ,

 

Julian

 

Weekly Family Schedule to Support Accountability

Monday:

• Morning: Family Devotional - Discuss a Bible verse about responsibility.
• Afternoon: Household Responsibility - Assign a simple chore to each family member.

Tuesday:

• Morning: Reflection Time - Share personal goals for accountability.
• Afternoon: Community Service - Plan or participate in a community-helping activity.

Wednesday:

• Morning: Bible Story Time - Focus on a story about integrity.
• Afternoon: Creative Project - Create art or crafts focusing on themes of honesty and responsibility.

Thursday:

• Morning: Prayer Walk - Pray for family, friends, and community.
• Afternoon: Discussion on Accountability - Share personal experiences and lessons learned.

Friday:

• Morning: Volunteering - Engage in a local volunteer opportunity.
• Afternoon: Family Game Night - Play games that emphasize teamwork and fairness.

Saturday:

• Morning: Nature Walk - Reflect on God's creation and our responsibility to care for it.
• Afternoon: Family Meeting - Discuss the week's experiences and plan for the upcoming week.

Sunday:

• Morning: Church - Attend church service together.
• Afternoon: Family Reflection - Discuss the sermon and its relevance to accountability.