Dear Parents

 

Dear Parents,

Have you read your children's literature lately? I recently had a conversation with a lady who is helping raise her seven-year-old niece. She was horrified with the language in children's books promoted in public schools. Many parents and caretakers are upset with the values children's books are often promoting. So what's up?

Children enjoy books that use less than polite words for the bottom and bodily functions, words many Christians don't allow their children to use. Publishers and authors want to sell books so they use language that will get a giggle and values that are heavily promoted by society. Children will read a whole series if they get that giggle factor. Teachers just want children to read. 

But is it all the teachers' fault? 

Most children are not homeschooled nor do they attend Christian schools. Is it not our job as parents to monitor the literature our children are subject to and promote literature that has positive examples and Christian values? 

Where do we start? 

We can take our children to the library and read to them and with them. Start early, really early, like at birth. We can evaluate what we read. We can let our children know how we feel about a book and how it does or doesn't match our values. I love Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. I don't know her faith but her book promotes positive family relationships and a dad who is worthy of imitation. I'd put her picture book at the top of a list of best books for young children.

Books about God and Jesus are great but they're not likely to find their way into your child's public classroom. We need to be more like Paul on Mars Hill. 

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. ~Acts17:23. 

We can help our children find a way to use the secular world to show Jesus to their classmates. Isn't it all about demonstrating Jesus, not just telling about Jesus that will make a difference?

Here's a partial list of the books I enjoy reading to children.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle -a salvation story - the caterpillar eats the wrong thing and though he tries to turn over a new leaf, he still must die to his old way of life to gain a new life with a new body.
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle - be aware of who you hang out with - every animal invited the spider to come and play, then left except a fly who kept hanging around. He was eventually eaten by the company he kept.
Beauty and the Beast - a servant's heart story - our kindness can make a difference in so many lives
Little Red Riding Hood - listen to your parents - a story of Satan who walks about seeking whom he may devour
Elephant and Piggy by Mo Willems - a variety of stories about two friends who face common or funny situations but manage to do the right thing to resolve the issue
The Grinch by Dr. Seuss - Christmas is not about gifts but about the Gift
Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss - a sanctity of life story, A person's a person no matter how small.
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder - stories of family life centered around family values
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - a fantasy genre that depicts the war between good and evil
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry - Historical fiction about a ten-year-old girl whose family hides a Jewish friend to protect her from the Nazis. A story about doing the right thing even in the face of grave danger.

What books would you add?

Hey Kids:

What do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?

Why? Now that is the question. 

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen is one of my favorite books. Why? Because it's about snow and hunting and being with Dad. The child loves and respects his dad. They have a great relationship. I think this book shows me without telling me to honor my parents and appreciate God's creation. 

Do you have a favorite book that shows Christian values? Be sure to let your parents know so they can add your book to a list of favorites. 

Self Doubt and Questions

 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

What if you only had a ninth-grade education?

What if you couldn't confidently write the word "the" without asking your child how to spell it? 

What if the only Bible translation you had to read was a King James Version? 

Could you read your Bible? Would you try?

Could you understand what you read? Could you explain it? Would you try?

Could you join in a discussion with college educated men? Men who were pastors. Would you try?

The man I just described was my dad. He loved reading Sports Afield Magazine. He kept up with the local and national news through the newspaper. He couldn't write legibly or spell correctly but he could do math in his head faster than a calculator.  He also loved reading and studying his Bible. 

My dad read scripture. He studied scripture but I don't remember ever seeing many notes, but ask him where something was, he knew. He didn't just read familiar books of the New Testament. He read Ezekiel, Zacheriah, and other Old Testament books matching prophecies together with other books including Revelation. He discussed what he read with other men in the church, including the pastors. He knew what he believed and why he believed it. He had the drive and ability to disciple his children and others. He became a deacon.

A piece of paper didn't make my dad an educated man. His own desire to know the truth for himself made him an educated man. 

 How hungry are we for the Truth? How dusty are our Bibles?  What are we doing to educate ourselves, our families, and others? 

Father, may your Holy Spirit guide us into all truth through your word. Amen. 

Blessings,

Gail

Windows of Learning (2)

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40

Let's suppose you and your family were at the beach. You saw a large fish, maybe a dolphin,. Maybe a whale. Your children were curious about the type of fish. Maybe they knew the story of Jonah and the whale and were wondering if the fish they saw could swallow a person. Could it swallow them? 

Windows of Learning (1)

But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

8 

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

    or let the fish in the sea inform you.

9 

Which of all these does not know

    that the hand of the Lord has done this?

Job 12:7-9 (NIV)

I wonder what this boy is thinking. He's mesmerized by God's creation just outside his window. Can you see him in your mind looking back to see if anyone is watching? Then slipping through the window to discover something. Something really cool, forgetting all about the school lessons on his desk that need to be finished before supper. 

Why do we make learning so difficult? Watch, no, observe a child observing a bug, squatting down, focused, momentarily reaching out to touch it. Maybe just with a stick. Maybe prodding it with a finger or a toe. But the child is learning, discovering what God has created to show us about Himself. Will the child learn more from the books and papers on his desk? Can he learn the same material from the things he's discovering outside his window? I truly think he can and this is why. From Genesis chapters 1 and 2 we can observe these things. 

• God created the universe.
• God is in control of the universe.
• God created the universe to tell us about Himself.
• God wants us to learn about His creation.
• God wants us to have dominion over creation--that does not mean controlling but working with creation for our betterment and the creation. 

That little fellow who was observing the bug will likely tell on himself when he comes to supper full of questions about the things he observed. Mom, Dad, or siblings don't have to give him the answers. All that is needed is to point him in the right direction to find those answers with age-appropriate texts, (fiction and/or non-fiction), technology, a visit to a nature center, etc. In the meantime, what will he do? He'll likely collect that bug and draw a picture of it. When he reads about it he may use the text as a mentor text to write about his find. He may measure the length of his captor, count its legs, and observe its wings. He may figure out what it eats. All the while making notes so he can remember this especially cool bug. 

Has he learned anything important? Sure! Check out the standards for education in your state. SC standards can be found here: https://ed.sc.gov/instruction/standards-learning/ Check any grade level including high school biology and you will find he has met many of the standards with just this one bug. Check the English, Math, Writing Standards as well. Maybe the bug has even played a role in history by immigrating to your area from some other part of the world during a particular event. He has integrated learning in all subjects with just one little bug. He has learned things he will never forget, including the memories he made with parents, siblings and friends. He won't dump this info as soon as the test is over. Oh, what test? 

If you included the Creation story in your discussions, you have implanted the Word of God in his knowledge or perhaps the bug is a locust and there are also other Bible stories to go along with his studies.  Education is just outside your window or perhaps in your kitchen or garage or tool shed and it's never boring if we allow God's creation to lead the way. 

Father, help us let Your Creation lead the way in teaching our children even the most complicated subjects because You are the ultimate Teacher. In Jesus' name. Amen.