This best-selling children' book was shared with all our classrooms at every grade level. It tells Jesus's story from a new and unusual point of view. It helps us understand that Jesus was born to bring love to the world and died to to demonstrate the profoundness of that love.
We have spent much of our energy on teaching children the things of our faith; having them know the Sign of the Cross, and common prayers. Little do we appreciate them as spiritual beings just like us grown-ups. I often think about the growth of God in their souls.
All human beings are spiritual. We have a “spirit- receiver,” and can use our conversations with children to stimulate their affinity towards God. Rather than worry about memorizing Bible stories, it is more important a child comes away from the Gospel stirred into thought and troubled into compassion, than if he or she is able to repeat back a lesson or moral.
Rebecca Nye, in her book "Children’s Spirituality: What it is and why it matters," tells us it is in fact the power of Godly play when we simply share the story with children, difficult parts and all, and then get out of the way allowing for the Holy Spirit to act. She gives us a method to encourage a child’s spiritual life. Here are her steps for sharing stories:
She encourages us to “facilitate wonder.” Facilitating wonder can be an attitude that is applied to a wide range of encounters with children. It is very helpful in nurturing spirituality. In this facilitation there are no “rights or wrongs’ but only, “I wonder.” Is that not where all our encounters with the divine leave us? I wonder.
In the end, it will be okay, because God is always with us.
Are your children afraid of change? Are you looking for a way to discuss change with your family?
Check out the book written by New York Times bestselling author, Lysa TerKeurst, It Will Be Okay: Trusting God Through Fear and Change.
It will help kids discover that in the end, it really will be okay, because we have a God who is good and kind and always with us.