Am I teaching my kids a fairy tale, again?

I am struggling to figure out how to explain the Christian genocide going on in Iraq to my girls.
We don't watch the news at our house.  I shelter my girls by choice, because I don't believe that their is much value in daily doses of stories of rape, murder, and war when you are 8 years old.  But my friend asked me to help her know how to explain to her sons what is going on in Iraq with our Christian brothers and sisters.  I had no advice for her, because I haven't explained it to my girls yet.

Photo Credit: Washington Post Aug 8, 2014

 I wanted to avoid this topic because it saddens and terrifies me on very deep levels, but the Lord has prompted my heart that I can't ignore this and I am doing a disservice to my girls by keeping it from them.  As I started to wrestle with this, several posting I had shared in the summer of 2012 came to mind.  I will be reposting them this week, with a new posting at the end of the week about our brothers and sisters in Iraq.

Am I teaching my kids a fairy tale?  

(originally posted summer of 2012)

My Facebook news feed and my heart are both full today of the sad news of Colorado’s many forest fires.  The images coming out of Colorado are truly unbelievable. 

photo credit: cathywaltersphotography

My girls are attending VBS this week.  Last night at dinner Emily told us the saying of the day was “Amazing!  God’s power over all circumstances!”

Amazing, I thought to myself.  I know this week our home church in Denver is doing the same VBS, as are many others.   I praise God for teaching kids all over Colorado this week this simple truth. 

  God is powerful over all circumstances.

But it made me wonder, am I teaching this truth at home?  God is powerful over all circumstances.  In fires, and floods, illness and death, am I teaching my children that God is in those circumstances? 

A few years ago my aunt and I were talking about faith.  She said, “When I was raising my kids I told them a fairy tale version of God, but when life got tough they didn’t believe the fairy tale anymore, and they didn’t believe in God either.” 

I knew just what she meant by a " fairy tale version of God".  We tell our kids the story of the animals God protected on the Ark, how Daniel was just fine in the den and baby Jesus came to help us all go to Heaven.  How does the saying go ... a partial truth is a whole lie? 

When Sarah was three she asked me what happened to the animals that didn’t get on the ark.  I told her they swam. 

Why was I afraid to tell her the truth?   Was I afraid that she couldn’t love a God that saved two giraffes and drowned the rest?  Did I think that I could hide death, could hide the fallen state of our world from her?

At nine, I can’t convince Sarah that the rest of the animals swam, but what other fairy tales am I selling her in the place of true knowledge of God? 

When I teach her to pray for situations burdening her heart am I teaching her to approach God as the Great I Am, or a genie in a bottle?  If I only teach her to pray to God with the power of wishing on a star, when her house burns down or washes away who will she think God is? 

It was not a fairy tale faith that allowed Job after losing all his children and wealth in a day fall to the ground and worship the Lord saying, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” 

After enduring financial ruin and the loss of his son in the Great Chicago Fire and then losing his daughters in a shipwreck, it was not a fairy tale faith that prompted Horatio Spafford to pen these words in the famous hymn It is Well with my Soul:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul

As much as I wish I could hand my girls a fairy tale world to live in, I have only the real one to offer.   What a shame it would be to sell them short with a fairy tale faith, when we have such an amazing God.  They'll need to know the truth (or as much of it as this poor mind can pass on) of an awesome God who is in control of all things, even the things that look out of control.  Of a good God who is working all things together for HIS good, even the bits that are very, very bad.  And of a saving God who has promised us citizenship in a much, much better world to come. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

 photo credit: www.9news.com

I Love You to God and Back by Amanda Lamb - Book Review

As a reviewer with Booksneeze.com I was given an opportunity to read the newly released book I Love You to God and Back by Amanda Lamb published by Thomas Nelson.  Here Goes.

Amanda Lamb and her daughter Chloe, age 6, set out to record 100 nights of her bedtime prayers.  These prayers and Amanda’s reflections make up I Love You to God and Back.  I have to admit this book did not end up being the book I set out to read.  I was looking to gain some parenting insight on how to make my own girls’ nightly prayer time more meaningful.  This is not what this book does.  The author is not a theologian and this is not an expert's how-to book.  But the author is quite upfront about that from the onset,

I’m a regular mother who wanted to give her daughter a love of God.  Yet, with no special skills or theological background, and with as many questions about faith as answers, I felt ill equipped to be her guide.  But slowly I started to discover that she was my guide.   - I Love You to God and Back by Amanda Lamb

Once I realized what the book is really about there were aspects that I greatly appreciated, namely Chloe.  This is a book about Chloe, who she is, what she cares about, and how she sees God’s role in her life.  She is a grateful child whose nighttime prayers document the small and large gifts of the day.  Chloe thanks God for friends, riding her bike without training wheels, candy, movies and always her family.  But after reading about 20 of her prayers I started to feel annoyed that Chloe’s prayers were one dimensional and repetitive.   That same night God allowed me to hear, really hear my own prayer.  I heard myself unloading to God my laundry list of worry for friends and family.   Cancer, strokes, divorces, financial fears … on and on I droned with none of the gratitude that Chloe’s prayers showed.  Maybe I had something to learn here.  I know I am not alone in this, I think it's a common condition of the adult heart.  The author sums up this thought beautifully:

For some reason, as adults it is easy to forget that everything that happens that makes us smile is worthy of a thank-you to God.  Children adopt this concept so readily, but it’s not as easy for us.  So as I watch her effortlessly give God praise for everything from unicorns to underwear, I am transported back to my own childhood when thankfulness came easy, and quite often. - I Love You to God and Back by Amanda Lamb

If you are like me, and need some reminding to live in gratitude, you too may have lessons to learn from this pint-sized Ann Voskamp.  Chloe’s prayers have challenged me to change my nighttime routine.  To be intentional in praising God for who He is and the smiles He has provided each day.  It’s an important lesson to taught (or reminded again and again). 

I have tree planted right outside my office window. Yesterday a bird landed in it.  He perched close to the window and stayed a while, looking in at me with wondering eyes.  I immediately thought to myself, “Chloe would thank God for this bird,” and so I did. 

“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18: 17

National Parks and Poppy

 

Several years ago my nature-loving father decided that he wanted to visit every National Park.  He and my mom have made good headway on this journey and are adding more and more parks to their "seen" list each year. (Stamps in the book to your park people.) Last week we spent three days at Shenandoah National Park together.

 It reminded anew that we are truly blessed to live in a country that sets land apart for conservation and enjoyment.  Our visit to Shenandoah was a perfect reminder of our family devotion this month, studying the story of creation.  What an awesome Creator we have. 

What a wildly wonderful world, God!

 You made it all, with Wisdom at your side,

made earth overflow with your wonderful creations. – Ps 104:24 msg

 With a National Park in every state except Delaware (poor Delaware), there is a National Park within driving distance of most Americans. (okay this is an edit: Poppy has corrected me, all states except Delaware have a National Park or National Monument but not all have National Parks.  Further evidence we should appreciate them right!)   What an amazing gift.  Entrance fees are a fraction of the cost of going to a big amusement park, with all of the attractions pointing to the handiwork of our amazing God. 

If you are so lucky as to have one, take a Poppy with you.  Nothing could be better makings for great summertime memories.

What National Parks has your family visited?  I would love to hear your stories or suggestions as our family plans our next park visit. 

Frogs, fireflies and other outdoor fun

Two months ago our family moved from Colorado to North Carolina.  We found ourselves going from being surrounded by prairie grasses and mountain views to trees, frogs and lots more bugs.  This change has reawakened in our girls a love for exploring nature.  I think this love lives in all of us, our over scheduled, technology soaked lives just buries it deep sometimes.  

Lately the girls have enjoyed finding tiny frogs that live in the yard and catching fireflies in jelly jars.  According to Sarah the best catches are after 9:00 pm - but I think that might just be an excuse to push back her bedtime. 

 

With school out we are looking forward to spending more time outside.  I got out our nature explorer kits this weekend.  I keep our kits together for hikes, vacations and general backyard exploring.  It includes a small notebook, a handheld magnifying glass, colored pencils and a couple of wildlife identification cards. 

This month’s family devotion is called The GreatCreator.  It studies the story of creation.  I hope your family will find time to do this devotion and then get outside to enjoy our Creator’s handiwork.  Here are three links that have great ideas or inspiration for outdoor family fun:

I love Family Fun Magazine– this page will lead you to tons of outdoor inspired crafts. 

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/home-garden-projects/gardening-nature-crafts/

REI has a free adventure book that you can download for your kids.  Full of activities and journal space, great for a camping trip or just to inspire some backyard exploring. 

http://www.rei.com/family-adventure

There are so many great ideas out there, I created a Pinterest Page just to inspire me to get outside with the girls and appreciate the God’s creation.  I hope you find some inspiration here too.

http://pinterest.com/celebrated/family-outdoor-fun/

June's Family Devotion

Parent Introduction: 

I don’t know about your kids, but ours are ready to be outside.  We just had our last day of school and they are ready to spend long hours outside swimming, exploring and catching fireflies.  June is a great time of year to explore the outdoors and take time to discuss our Creator.  Check back to The Celebrated Family during the month of June for outdoor family fun ideas to reinforce the themes of this devotion.  May God bless your time together. 

Supplies Needed:

·         Bible

·         Plain paper – enough for each child plus three extra pieces

·         Pencils

·         Crayons

The Great Creator

Introduction:  (Sit around a table with nothing on the table)
We are so blessed to live in a beautiful world that God created.  We are going to make pictures of some of our favorite things God made.  You can make anything you want – mountains, trees, apples – whatever.  The only rule is that you can only make your picture with the supplies in the middle of our table.  As a matter of fact, go ahead and sit on your hands.  Okay now I’ll give you 2 minutes to make anything you want.  Go ahead, start.   (Continue to encourage your kids as if they can create something with what is on the table.  Do not let anyone go get supplies)

Discussion Question:

1.         How did you feel when I asked you to make a picture? Why couldn’t you do it? 

We could not make a picture because we did not have anything to make it with.  Today we are going to read about the creation of world.  God created a wonderful, diverse, world full of so many different types of plants and animals that scientist discover new ones every year.  But God did not use construction paper, markers, play dough or any of the things we use to create things.  We are going to read Genesis 1:1 -1:25.  First, I am going to read verses one through five, and I want you to listen to what God used to create the world. 

Reading:   Genesis 1:1-1:5.                   

Discussion Questions:

1. Did you hear how God made light?   (God called the light into being.  He spoke and it was.)

2.  God created the light by just speaking.  He didn’t use crayons, electricity, play-dough, He just spoke.  Why God can could God create light just by speaking?  (God is powerful.)

Pass out a sheet of paper and a pencil or crayons to each child.

Now I am going to read verses 6 through 27.  We are going to hear how God made many other things.  Let’s create a grid on the paper in front of you.  Draw a line down the middle, then three lines across the paper, dividing the paper into 6 squares.  Number your squares 1-6 with a small number in one corner of each square.  We are going to read about the six days of God’s creation.  As I read, you are going to draw or write something in each square, representing what God created on that day.  We already read day 1, so go ahead and draw something in your #1 box that represents light. 

Reading:   Genesis 1:6-1:27 Briefly pause after each day to allow children to finish their drawings.  If children’s drawings get elaborate, tell them they can always go back and finish it later. 

Discussion Question:

1.       Can you tell me what God did on each of the six days of creation?  Have your children tell you about what they drew for each day.   Talk about additional examples for each day. 

Let’s think about the first thing we did here.  When I asked you to make a picture without anything could you?  You could not, but God can. All the things we drew and mentioned are things that God has created.  In our reading, at the end of each day it said that “God saw it and it was good.”  God’s creations are indeed good.  We are going to pray together to thank God for the wonderful world He has created.  When we are finished with our prayer we will play a fun game together. 

Prayer:  Holding hands in a circle, take turns praising God for His creation.  If your children are not familiar or experienced with participating in praying out loud, encourage them to thank God for two or three of their favorite animals or fruits.

 Family Activities: Creation Charades:

1.       Have all members of the family write down on slips of paper things God created such as palm trees, alligators, shooting stars, the ocean, blowfish – get creative!  Next to the name of the item write which day is was created on.  Try to have a variety from days 3-6.  Place all the ideas in a bowl.

2.       Take turns drawing a slip of paper and acting it out.  Before each player starts to act out their thing have them hold up the number of fingers of which day it was created on.  Larger families can divide into teams, smaller families can all play as one team. 

Some of our family’s favorite Creation Charade ideas are:  shooting stars, apples, elephants, porcupines, hail, rhinoceroses, ocean waves, and sharks.  Have fun!