DIRTY DISHES OR DIRTY SOCKS?!

FamilyNightActivities March09,2012Calendar: GODISHOLY!

YouandIwouldprobablynotweardirtysocksoverandoveragain,especiallyifcleanones wereavailable!Kidsmightnotminditforadayortwobuteventheyhavetheirlimits!The sameistruefordirtydishes.Canyouimagineservingdinnerondishesthatstillhave remnantsofyesterdaysmaindishcoatingit? GodspeoplearetotallycleanbecauseofJesuspaymentonthecross,butmanywakeup everydayandputonold,sinfulhabitsthatrobthemofjoyandfreedom.Thisactivitywill helpyourchildrenexperiencehowcrazyitistobetotallycleanandyetclothedinfilth.

Preparation:
Choosewhichactivityyouwanttodo,DirtySocksorDirtyDishes.Youcandobothifyoud like!Makesureyouhavedirtysocksordishesreadyfortheactivity.Muddysocksfromlast weeksactivitywillworkreallywell!! Youwillneed: 1. Dirtydishesfromapreviousmeal. 2. Dirtysocksforeachperson.Itsimportantthattheyreverydirty!Ifyouneedto enhancetheirfilthfeelfree! 3. Oneortwotubsofwarmsoapywaterandacoupletowels.ThisisfortheDirtySocks activity.Ifbothparentsareparticipating,eachshouldhaveatub. 4. PrintthestoryofTommyandtheSkunksoyoucanreadittothekids. 1

5. Prepareadessertorsnack. Gettingstarted:Ifyouredoingbothactivities,dotheDirtySocksActivityafterdinner.

Dirty Dishes
Setthedinnertablewithdishesfromlastnightsmeal.Callthefamilyfordinnerandwaitfor theirreaction!Playalongbyactingshockedthattheyhaveaproblemwitheatingondirty dishes.Eventuallygiveinandbringsomecleanplates. Overdinnertalkabouttheproblemofdirtydishes: 1. Whatswrongwithit? 2. Whydonttheywanttoeatondirtyplates? 3. Whatharmcoulditdo?

Dirty Socks
MomandDadgoaroundtheroomwiththetubsofsoapywaterandtowelsandwash everyonesfeet.Asyouredoingit,talkabouthowJesuswashedhisdisciplesfeet.Jesuswas showingthemtheimportanceofservingothers,butitalsobecameareminderofhowJesus paymentonthecrosswashesawayoursin. Bringoutthedirtysocks.Haveeveryonefindtheirsocksinthepile.Theyprobablywont wanttotouchtheirownsocksletalonesomeoneelses!Tellthemtheycanwashtheirhands afterward! Askthemtoputthesockson.Somewillgoballisticoverthis.Mydaughterwouldthrowafit ifIforcedit!Thepointistotakethemtotheplacewheretheyfeelhowdisgustingitis(or wouldbe)towearfilthysocksoveracleanfoot. Asyouretalkingaboutputtingthesocksonask: 1. Whydontyouwanttoputthemon? 2. Whatharmwoulditdo? 3. Whyshouldwewearcleansocks? OverdessertreadthestoryofTommyandtheSkunk.

Tommy and the Skunk

Tommywaseightyearsoldwhenhisfamilypackedthevananddrovefromthecitytohis grandpasfarmforthesummer.Hethoughthedbeboredwithouthisfriendsorcomputer gamesbutitturnedoutthatthefarmwastotallyawesome!Heplayedinthebarn,fishedin thepond,andexploredthewoodsbesidethepasture. 2

 Tommylovedtheanimalsmostofall.Therewerehorses,cowsandchickensonthefarmand allsortsofcreatureswaitingtobediscoveredinthewoods!Oneday,however,hemetan animalhellneverforget.Thecreaturewasn'tverytall,butatthesightofitsblackfurandwhite stripefromthetipofitsnosetothetipofitsbushytail,mostpeopleturnandrun!Haveyou guessedwhatitwas?Askunk!! Tommydidn'tknowaboutskunks.Whenhestumbleduponthelittleblackandwhitecreature allhesawwasacuteanimalthatlookedlikeapotentialpet.Hewalkedslowlytowardthe skunk,andsuddenly,youguessedit,Tommygotsprayed!Thatlittleskunkshotitsfowlsmelling spraydirectlyatTommy.Hiseyesbegantowaterandthesmellalmostmadehimsicktohis stomach.Heranawayfromtheskunkasfastashehislegswouldcarryhimbuthecouldnot runawayfromthesmell. Hesmelledsobadlythathismomwouldn'tlethimanywherenearthefarmhouse!Theyfound abigoldwashtubinthebarn,andshehelpedhimwashthesmelloffwithtomatojuiceand water.Hismomtookhisclothesandthrewthemontheburnpilebehindthebarn. Ittookseveralbathswithlotsoftomatojuice,soap,andwaterbeforeTommyfeltcleanagain andthesmellwasfinallygone. Whatwouldhavehappenedif,afterhewastotallyclean,Tommyhadpulledhisclothesoff theburnpileandputthembackon? Hewouldhavebeensmellyagain!Tommywasclean,buthisclothesweren't.Hewouldstill smelllikeaskunkbecausehisclothessmelledlikeaskunk. Canyouimaginedoingsuchathing? AfterweacceptJesus'sacrificeforoursins,wearewashedcleanonceandforall.Butwhenwe sinwefeeldirtyagain.It'slikeputtingonold,smellyclothes.Godwantsustoputonclean, pureclotheseveryday. Read1John1:9. IfweconfessoursinstoHim,Heisfaithfulandjusttoforgiveusoursinsandtocleanseusfrom allwickedness,(NLT). ReadJohn15:7 ButifyouremaininMeandMywordsremaininyou,youmayaskforanythingyouwant,andit willbegranted,(NLT)! GodpromisesHewillhelpussaynotosin,allwehavetodoisstickclosetoHimandask.

BringingittoaClose:

PrayinsilenceforaminuteandgiveeveryoneachancetotalktoGodaboutanysinsthey wanttoconfess.ClosewiththanksgivingforJesuspaymentonthecrossforoursinsandHis promisetohelpussaynotosin.WearetotallycleanbecauseofHim!