M Is For Manger

 

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

So many things compete for our children's attention. Sometimes we need to be purposeful even in the things we intend for enjoyment. There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying time spent teaching our children. I recently ordered M is for Manger by Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley. My grandchildren came to help decorate the tree and set up the nativity scene on the coffee table. Our youngest loves to pretend with figurines so she moved the people and animals around several times until she was satisfied she had them placed just right. Then the girls settled down to read. They chose M is for Manger. The oldest is nine. She read it alone. The little one "read" the pictures. Then I sat down to read the book to her. She made it all the way to V is for Village until she got sleepy. Then she jumped up and ran over to the tree to check on the decorations so she could stay awake! Even children are purposeful in their actions. 

My grandchildren and I found the pictures to be inviting. The words are easy for young readers and listeners and carry the message in rhyme well. There is also a scripture on each page to connect the story. As I read the book I tried to think how I could use it to make a lasting memory of scripture since so much of Christmas now revolves around the secular.

One of the ways I thought to use the book is to make it an advent story, reading one page of the story each day and then creating something from the page to hang on the tree.  Pinterest is full of Advent crafts for those of us who need a little help. The first page is A is for Angel. A child with the help of an adult could easily make an angel. B is for Believe. It may be a little harder to capture in an advent picture but maybe something like praying hands or something meaningful for your family could be a symbol for believe.

Each day the child(ren) could review the story using the ornaments before reading and adding to the story. After Christmas, box up the ornaments for next year. It's likely the children will enjoy pulling them out and remembering their Christmas advent crafts, adding new ones, and recounting the story for others. 

Another idea is to use the book with a child-friendly nativity set like my granddaughter rearranged for half an hour. Rehearsing stories in a hands-on way is always a great way to imprint a learning experience. 

In whatever way you choose to teach your children about Christmas, I highly recommend M is for Manger as part of your Christmas experiences. 

Christmas blessings,

Gail

 

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness endures forever. Psalms 136:3 (AMP)

I want to share a beautiful children's book I received the other day. Before I even opened it I was impressed with the artwork, at how well Olya Bodulina, who lives in Russia, knew our animals and our scenes. 

There is lots to share with your child. Author Jean Matthew Hall's child-friendly rhythmic language invites the reader/listener to share in God's blessings. The words and pictures are well matched to invite children 4-8 years old into the world of fall.

The blessings God has provided for the animals and us will help open children's eyes to the happenings around them. Some of the scenes are familiar, others will be new but intriguing to young minds. Parents can use the story and pictures to help children notice the animals and the changes in their own backyard or on trips to apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and leaf-peeping adventures. As a parent, I would love to make a checklist or a bingo game for my children to look for the animals and the blessings God has provided for them and for us. 

Blessings are all around us this fall. Taking time to notice brings joy in the midst of our craziness. I want to encourage my family and others to give prayers of thanksgiving for all the blessings of the fall. 

God's Blessings of Fall is available on Amazon and other booksellers. Be sure to watch for more of Jean's books to come in the Blessings series. 

I give God's Blessings of Fall 5 stars! 

Heavenly Father, thank you for all your blessings of a beautiful fall, food on our table, and warm homes with family we love. May we honor and thank you not just at Thanksgiving but all year long. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

I'd like to share a few books about family get-togethers as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week. They are not about Thanksgiving but about family visits, some in the mountains, some at the beach, and some may just be next door. Look for things the families have in common as well as their differences. 

The Pink House by Sally Kate Palmer

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain by Chris Demarest

Grandma's Feather Bed by John Denver

How is your family like the families in the books? How are they different? What sounded like fun? What new celebrations would you like to add to your family gatherings? 

The Thanksgiving Miracle

  

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. ~Psalms 105:1

You know the picture in our minds we all get of the Indian brave who walks into the Pilgrim village in the spring of 1621 to show the Pilgrims how to plant corn, and beans, and pumpkin? Wasn’t his name Squanto? Or didn’t anyone ever tell you about Squanto?

The Family Basket

 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. ~Exodus 2:3 

Do you have a basket? What do you keep in it? Are there treasures inside? Baskets are beautiful works of art. I love placing the ribs side by side then weaving in other ribs to make the stout bottom that supports the rest of the basket. As I was thinking about our family it reminded me of the baskets I've made and used. If I don't make a tight weave across the bottom with the ribs the basket will have holes and won't hold the berries or herbs or other items I place in them.

Some baskets are made tight enough to hold water. Mine are not that tight. But I thought -families need to be woven tight. Families can't let anything in that will weaken or destroy its integrity. Nor can families leave anyone out. Every person is valuable to the family.

When Moses was born, the Pharaoh gave orders to kill all the baby boys by throwing them into the Nile. Moses was important to his family, so his mother sealed a basket, placed him inside, and gently lowered it into the river under God's watch care. Yes, his sister was there but all she could do was watch. God held Moses safe in the family basket.

Families weave safe baskets for their children. The bottom of the basket is the foundation, the marriage. As the basket takes shape the spokes across the bottom are turned up to make the ribs. As more material is woven around the ribs, the basket takes shape until it is a complete basket just as children are added to the marriage to complete the family. 

Moses was safe inside the basket. Our children should be safe inside our families. They need to know the stability and love that comes from a family. They also need to know that the main spoke in their family basket is the Lord Jesus Christ. Water makes the basket tighter. It makes the spokes pliable and when dry, the spokes are tight enough to make a sturdy basket. Jesus Christ, our Water of Life will make our marriages strong if we allow Him to soak into our lives and season them with His strength. It is Mom and Dad woven together in Christ that creates that family basket that will keep the children safe and secure in the midst of a culture of destruction. 

Heavenly Father, help us consider how we allow You to weave our marriages together. Help us give you first place that our homes might be a safe basket for our children. In Jesus's name. Amen.