Jesus wasn't simply teaching about speech. He was teaching that our words reveal what fills our hearts. If our hearts are filled with God's truth, love, and grace, those qualities will begin to overflow in our conversations. If our hearts are filled with fear, anger, jealousy, selfishness, or hurt, those things eventually come out through our words as well.

Reel Theme: Moxie shares she still mistakes and I do too. Together we bring awareness that as a disciple of Jesus we are always learning and that God is teaching us everyday to become more like Jesus.

Family engagement is much more than attending special events or volunteering in the classroom. It is creating meaningful partnerships that help children develop the social, emotional, and character skills they need to build healthy relationships throughout their lives.

One small Heart Skills: Circle Time with Puppet Pals each week can become the beginning of stronger friendships, more peaceful classrooms, and children who are learning to treat others with kindness—not because someone tells them to, but because they are practicing it together.

Before children arrive, educators can take a moment to ask: Am I prepared to repeat this lesson without becoming irritated? How will I respond when a child needs more time? What will I do when the activity does not work as planned? Am I expecting developmental perfection from children who are still learning? Are my words demonstrating the same kindness I am teaching? Have I asked the Holy Spirit to guide my reactions today?

A child walks into the classroom and sees two friends whispering together. Neither friend looks in the child’s direction, so the child immediately thinks, They are talking about me. They do not want me here.

When I say, “Look at what the Lord has done,” I am praising Him because this transformation did not happen through my own strength.

“Who should I listen to when people say things that I know are wrong and do not go along with what Jesus is teaching me?”

Love is revealed by what we say. Love is something children experience through our actions.

This does not mean we dishonor our parents. Honoring our parents does not mean repeating everything they did. We can love them, respect them, and still allow God to renew our minds and teach us a different way.

Many young children naturally want to be involved in what the adults around them are doing. They ask, "Can I help?" They want to stir the batter, carry the laundry basket, wipe the table, or pick up toys. Although it may take longer to complete a task with little helpers beside us, these moments are building something far more valuable than a clean home—they are building hearts that learn to serve others with joy.

As believers, we can depend on the Holy Spirit to help us respond with wisdom and grace. He reminds us that every child is created in God's image and worthy of dignity, compassion, and care.

When mothers strive to follow Jesus daily, children receive a living example of faith. They learn that obedience is not just something we talk about on Sunday. It is something we practice every day in our homes, our relationships, and our choices.

One way children can stand strong is by remembering God's commandment to love others as Jesus loves us. Sometimes that means refusing to join in when others are being unkind. Other times it means telling the truth when it would be easier to lie.

Self-Control Is Learned Through Practice Children are not born with self-control. They are born with needs, wants, emotions, and impulses. Learning to pause, think, and make wise choices takes time. Just as children learn to hold a pencil through practice, they learn self-control through repeated opportunities to make better choices.

"Because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son." — Hebrews 12:6 (NIV)

What did children experience in our classrooms? Did they experience patience when learning something difficult? Did they experience kindness after making a mistake? Did they experience grace when they struggled to meet expectations? Did they experience love? As Christian educators, we have the privilege of teaching far more than academic skills. Every day, we have opportunities to reflect the heart of Christ through our interactions with children.

At the end of the school year, many parents naturally pause to celebrate milestones—reading progress, behavior growth, new friendships, and independence. These are meaningful moments worth acknowledging. But there’s another question worth sitting with as the school year closes: What have we learned about love?

This week, God showed me that my relationship with Him comes before ministry, business, platforms, opportunities, and the opinions of others. Before the work, there is worship. Before the assignment, there is intimacy with the Father. And His love never fails.

Sometimes doing the right thing can feel difficult, especially when others around us are making different choices. In today’s read-aloud, Daniel and the Very Hungry Lions, children will learn about Daniel’s courage, obedience, prayer life, and trust in God even when others opposed him.