I love naïve country decorating.  I protect my walls very fiercely for my decorating purposes!  I have therefore struggled with giving up “the look” for a “School look” consisting of ABC frieze, verb and noun posters, times tables and even excessive amounts of kids paintings  (sad I know!)

When we moved into our family room extension one thing I was disappointed about was the lack of wall space – by the time we put in the wall unit with computer table, the book cases, the whiteboard there was only one wall space and that is above my scrapbooking table. 

But creative thought set in and we now use the cupboard doors as our wall space.  Sure, I struggled with this too especially since as you look down the hallway you see these cupboards…. But it was important so I gave up my “look”.

What was important was our Reminder Wall.  God told His people, to tell their children about His good deeds, about His ways, as they walk, sit, stand, evening and morning.  He told them to post them on their forehead, and hang them around their necks, and around their doorposts.

This is what I want this wall space to be – our Reminder wall.  When we study a character trait I make up a prompt sheet – this is primarily for myself – helps me remember the words that will prompt the children to apply the character they need to.  It gives me the definition, the scriptures, anything that will help me be consistent to holding my children and myself to the standard.

In our studies we often make at least one project that is significant to what we have learnt and one of these goes up on our Reminder Wall as a graphic, 3D reminder of that trait.  For example, for Self-control we made a set of traffic lights.  This helps us to remember to stop, think and act.  For Obedience we made a set of keys – the keys to obedience are Immediately, Cheerfully, without complaint, Completely, Go the extra mile. 

When we are dealing with something with one of our children I have been seen taking them to the Wall – face to face with the wall they read what is required of them.  It is at this point that they can make a commitment to change their heart and behave accordingly – or at least go away and think about it.    I don’t do this all the time as mostly I open the Word for them, but the Wall has its place in our day-to-day living too. 

I am surprised – and maybe I shouldn’t be – at how helpful a prompt can be as a parent.  It reminds me of the commitment I’ve made to God’s ways, it reminds me of the tools I have at my disposal to help my children, it reminds me of the words to say so that we are all on the same page.  It reminds me! 

God obviously knew what He was about when He told His people to put reminders all around themselves!