Discovering Faith Through Service: An Interview with Karen Whiting

52 Devotions for Families Called to Serve

Valerie - Welcome to Bookworthy. Today, we're talking with author Karen Whiting. Karen's mission is to help families and children know Jesus and learn to defend their faith. She is a certified writing and marketing coach, an international speaker, a former television host, and an award-winning author of over 30 books for women, children, military families, and more. Today, we're discussing her 52-week Devotions for Families Called to Serve. Karen has generously provided Bookworthy listeners with a twelve-week sample devotional for your busy family. You can find that downloadable in the show notes. Welcome to Bookworthy, Karen!

Karen - Thanks for having me, Valerie. It's wonderful to be here. I love this topic because I want to help develop a servant heart in children. I want them to reach out and share love so that people can see God in their lives.

Valerie - I love how you've woven this theme through your family history. Service is so intertwined in your family, and it's great to see it presented in a fun and accessible way. I can't wait to hear more about it. But first, let's start with our random question of the week. Most people travel to Florida for vacations, but since you are from Florida, where do you like to travel?

Karen - I always go back home to Connecticut every summer. I visit my brother, who is handicapped, and spend time with family. I also enjoy traveling around the world. Last year, I visited Israel.

Valerie - That sounds exciting! I saw that you enjoy riding camels and scuba diving. You certainly seem to enjoy exploring the world. Now, tell us a little more about your devotional, the 52 Devotions for Families Called to Serve.

Karen - Since my children were ages two to sixteen, I developed activities and devotions we could do as a family. This book is part of a series because I wanted it to cater to families with multiple children of varying ages. I wanted to create hands-on experiences for children, not just reading. Every day starts with a family Beatitude, inspired by the Beatitudes Christ gave us. For example, "Happy is the family that accepts help gratefully, for they will be supported," based on John 13:35: "If you love one another, everyone will know you are my disciples."

The activities encourage families to discuss support and gratitude. For instance, one activity involves discussing a support beam in your home and how it provides strength. Supporting others is equally important. Families can offer support when a member is away, such as babysitting or preparing meals. Another activity is to express gratitude to supporters by making snacks or sending thank-you cards. Each week includes several activities and a true story, sometimes with composite names to protect identities.

Valerie - I love how you've structured these devotionals to be engaging and accessible. It's so important to instill the heart of service in our children. How did you prioritize family devotional time?

Karen - We used an incentive. I would say, "If we don't have time for our devotions today, we won't have time for dessert." If we don't have the sweetness of God's word, there's no room for anything else sweet. This motivated them to participate.

Valerie - That's a clever way to get their attention!

Karen - Yes! We also made sure the activities were fun. We targeted discussion questions to different age groups, allowing for deeper conversations. For example, we might discuss Ephesians 6:2, which talks about honoring parents. We could ask younger children what they could do for a parent who is away. It allowed for a mix of simple and deeper discussions.

Valerie - That's fantastic! It’s crucial to engage children in discussions about their faith. Many kids go through the motions but don’t truly own their faith. How did holding family devotions impact your children?

Karen - One of my older daughters told me that her earliest memories are of doing devotions as a family. It grounded her. We shared stories of service, like one about a family involved in a bread ministry. They collected day-old bread and distributed it to those in need. My family loved making sandwiches for the homeless, and they would decorate the bags with stickers and messages of love.

Valerie - That’s beautiful! Engaging kids in active service helps them understand their faith. We do something similar in our family, where we prepare kits for the homeless. It’s heartwarming to see our kids become more aware of those in need.

Karen - Exactly! One activity encourages children to notice if someone drops something in public. It teaches them to be observant and aware of their surroundings, which is essential for safety and service.

Valerie - I love that! The verse you mentioned earlier emphasizes that people will know we are God's followers by our love and service. What were some challenges you faced when starting family devotions?

Karen - Reading long passages was challenging for younger kids. Instead, we used children's Bible stories and read one verse from the actual Bible. It kept their attention and comprehension. We also avoided overly complex activities. Laughter made everything better. For instance, I once had my husband pretend to be trapped in the bathroom, and the kids had to help him. It turned into a fun lesson about prayer and being open to help.

Valerie - Kids often throw wrenches into our plans, but sometimes those moments lead to the most meaningful lessons.

Karen - Yes! Those moments built strong family bonds. Even now, my children support each other during tough times. For example, when one daughter lost her husband, her siblings rallied around her. They learned to serve one another and support each other through life's challenges.

Valerie - Those memories and moments are invaluable. How can we help parents develop faith and character in their children today?

Karen - First, parents must live out their faith. Making devotions a priority shows children that faith matters. Studies indicate that families who pray together significantly increase the likelihood that children will retain their faith. Keeping a journal or memory book can remind children that God has always been with them. Simply dropping kids off at church isn't enough; we need to engage them in their faith.

Valerie - Absolutely! It's essential to create a culture of faith within the family.

Karen - Yes! Instead of introducing a new verse every day, focus on one verse a week. This approach is easier for children and parents alike. Don’t feel pressured to know everything. Learning together is part of the journey.

Valerie - That’s a great perspective! It’s about the experience and the journey of discovery. Your devotionals break down complex ideas into simple, digestible lessons.

Karen - Exactly! One story involves a child calling 911 during an emergency. It shows how children can make a difference in critical situations.

Valerie - Empowering kids to take action is crucial, whether in emergencies or everyday life.

Karen - Yes! They need to know they can make a positive impact.

Valerie - What can we expect next from you, Karen?

Karen - My next book, Dicking Deep: Uncovering God's Truth Through Biblical Archaeology, will be released next spring. It dives into archaeology, linking Bible stories with archaeological evidence. Each unit will include hands-on activities and science experiments related to the topics.

Valerie - That sounds fascinating! Biblical archaeology makes the Bible tangible and real.

Karen - Yes! You can find my books at karenwaiting.com or wherever books are sold.

Valerie - Thank you, Karen, for joining us today!

Karen - Thank you for having me, Valerie. It's been delightful to discuss children, families, and faith.

Valerie - I've enjoyed it too. Thank you for joining Karen and me on this episode of the Bookworthy podcast. Check the show notes for any books or links we discussed, including the sample devotionals Karen has provided. Let us know in the comments about your favorite vacation destinations.

Bookworthy will be on break preparing for season seven in the next few weeks. But don't let that stop you from working on the Bookworthy summer reading challenge. We'll have some Play It Again episodes for you to catch up on between now and September.

Happy reading.