We had just about finished lunch and I was giving the kids each a little Hershey Kiss. John-Paul had finished his Hershey Kiss and Joseph still had yet to finish his lunch, so he perched his Hershey Kiss next to his plate. As usual, John-Paul was asking if he could have more. I had noticed out of the corner of my eye that Joseph had given away his Hershey Kiss to John-Paul and so upon noticing that, I said,
"Wow Joseph, did you make a sacrifice for Jesus and give up your Hershey Kiss to John-Paul?"
(We do talk quite a bit about making sacrifices around here, so it's not something they're unfamiliar with).
"Yeah," he said, smiling.
"See, that's how saints are made! You guys keep doing things like that, you'll be a saint in no time!"
I had both of their attention now and they were both smiling, as "becoming a saint" had come up earlier that day too; and they were very set on becoming one.
Then Joseph asked, "Can I have another one mom," referring to the Hershey Kiss.
*Enter teachable moment*
Then to lighten the mood a little, I said in a jokingly, smiling way...
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I thought you made a sacrifice?? Is that really a sacrifice if you want to have mommy just give you another Hershey Kiss instead?"
Both of the boys with full attention now,
"No."
(Somehow John-Paul had incorporated himself into this lesson which was for Joseph).
"A sacrifice has to cost us something. You can't give something away while hoping that you'll be able to get something else back in its place instead! Pssshhhhh! That's no sacrifice! That's easy peasy to do! It's so easy for me to give away my chocolate if I know someone else is going to give me chocolate back. Remember what Jesus said, 'You are to give without cost.'" Of course, referencing....
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. [Matthew 10:8]
I continued in that same disposition...
"Nooooooo see that's not a sacrifice! You have to give something away without expecting anything back for it!" *smiling, lightheartedly at them* "You make a sacrifices out of love for the Lord. When you guys make sacrifices, you become more like Jesus and God can fiiiillllll your soul with His love! So when you make lots of sacrifices and give up things that you want to help others and please the Lord, you make lots and lots of room for Jesus to make a big home in your soul!"
I had their full blown attention and they almost looked in rapt awe.
Then Joseph seemed to snap out of it when he noticed the bag of Hershey Kisses in my hand.
"Mom, may I have a Hershey Kiss now?"
I smiled (chuckling a bit inside) and gave him the Hershey Kiss.
Another time, another day...
But in all seriousness, there are plenty of these teachable moments throughout the day; ways to affirm children in the virtuous acts they do while also teaching in tid-bits about the spiritual life and what it means to be a disciple of Christ. These ways seem to be much more effective and well-received by kids rather than a book-lesson (which have their place too, although we don't do that yet. Our "book-lessons" are more in the form of stories which clearly display acts of virtue and good/evil, like fairy tales, good storybooks, and the stories in The Book of Virtues). The reason these teachable or affirming moments seem to get across in time is because they happen very naturally and children see their practicality and application first-hand, through experience. It makes sense.
Sometimes, they will remember these little lessons and incorporate them into their daily life. The hope is that they become a habits of virtues. But, other times, not so much, which is expected too (like I said, "another time, another day..."). But, as a parent, never quit teaching these daily little lessons as you see is prudent in your judgement and in good time; and persevere in forming them into disciples of Christ, out of love for Christ... and with a touch of humor when it's fitting! ;)