You Are Blessed! Gratitude

• First Reconciliation is one of many great moments in your journey with God. God is always willing to give you another chance and a fresh start through Reconciliation. 
• Few things bring more joy in life than expressing gratitude and sharing your blessings with others. 

Family Connection Activity:
Gratitude has been scientifically proven to enhance mental and physical health. Gratitude improves an individual's self-esteem. Those who consistently practice gratitude sleep significantly better than those who do not. A grateful person will always have better relationships than an ungrateful person.

Learning to respond to God’s blessings with gratitude is one of life’s great gifts. Make your own gratitude list, and share it with your child over dinner.

Pray this prayer with your child each day this week:
Loving Father, thank you for all the ways you have blessed me in the past, all the ways you are blessing me today, and all the ways you plan to bless me in the future. I know you have great plans for me. Help me trust in you and accept every invitation you give me. Amen.

God Sent Jesus to Save Us

• Your story and Jesus’ story are connected. 
• God will go to unimaginable lengths to prove his love for you. 
• Jesus invites you to have a dynamic and personal relationship with him so that he can share his happiness with you and you can share it with others.

Family Connection DIscussion:
If there is one person to get to know in a deeply personal way, it’s Jesus. There is no person and no story more important for you or your child to discover than Jesus and his story. And, believe it or not, this time of preparation is a great opportunity for you to rediscover Jesus. What is your favorite part of the Jesus story? Is it his birth and childhood? His teachings? His miracles? His sacrifice on the cross? His death and resurrection? The Ascension?

Share with your child your favorite part of the Jesus story, and ask them to share their favorite part, too.

Pray this prayer with your child each day this week:
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. 
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy.
Amen.

Forgiveness and Healing

• Forgiveness is key to healthy relationships. 
• Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leads us to heaven. 
• In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God proves that he is always willing to forgive you. 

Watch Lesson 3 Videos (located below):

1. Forgiveness
2. What is Reconciliation?

Family Connection Discussion:
There can be no peace without forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the central lessons in the life and teachings of Jesus. It plays a powerful role in the spiritual health of every person. It plays a powerful role in every relationship. It is essential to the life of any healthy community, whether that community is as small as a family or as large as a nation. When we forgive, we share  the love of God with others and rid ourselves of dangerous poisons that can prevent us from growing spiritually.

Share with your child a story from a time in your life when you needed to ask for someone’s forgiveness or accept someone’s apology.

Pray this prayer with your child each day this week:
The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want;
he lets me lay down in green pastures.
He leads me beside peaceful waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will not be afraid; for he is with me;
his rod and thy staff, they comfort and protect me.
He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
he anoints my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; and I will live in the house of
the Lord forever.

Your First Reconciliation

• Reconciliation is a lifelong blessing. 
• No matter how far you may wander from God, he will never stop searching for you. He will never stop encouraging you to become the-best-version-of-yourself, to grow in virtue, and to live a holy life. 
• Your child’s First Reconciliation is going to be a great moment in his or her life. 

Watch Lesson 4 Videos (located below):

1. Preparation Matters
2. The Five Steps
3. First, but Not Last

Family Connection Discussion:
In all likelihood, your child is going to be nervous to make his or her First Reconciliation. You can help ease his nerves. It doesn’t matter how long it has been since your last Confession—go. Reconciliation is the perfect spiritual practice to rekindle our passion for excellence in the spiritual life. It is a blessing and a gift to embrace. It is not just a cleansing experience; it is a strengthening experience. It is an opportunity to work with God to form a-better-version-of-ourselves.

When you go to Reconciliation, make a point either to take your child with you or tell him or her about it afterwards. Sharing the experience  will help your child know it isn’t so scary. But more than that, you can show by example that Reconciliation is not just a one-time event, but a lifelong blessing.

Pray this prayer with your child each day this week:
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, 
and to the Holy Spirit. 
As it was in the beginning, 
is now, and ever shall be, world without end. 
Amen.