November 20th - What We Learned

This Sunday, November 20th, your 2-5 year old children in the Reign Forest learned that God gave us friends who can help us.  I Samuel 18:1-4, 20 tells the story of how King Saul's son Jonathan used a bow and arrows to make a secret code alerting David that his life was in danger and that he needed to run away quickly!  The two friends then hugged and cried together, and Jonathan told David he knew that God had chosen David to be the next king.  Then he asked David to promise not to harm Jonathan or his descendents when he became king, and David promised.

This paragraph is a tangent from our topic, but I can't seem to keep it to myself.  What Jonathan said to David as the friends parted forever has fascinated me for a while.  Jonathan, who was in line to become the next king; Jonathan, who obviously had a good relationship with God and would strive to lead Israel closer to God through his kingly role; Jonathan, who had most likely thought through his future and the steps he would take as king to be different from his father - this Jonathan realized God's plan was different from his own, and he bowed graciously to his Lord.  He knew that if anyone else became king besides himself, his entire family's lives were at stake, yet he still bowed graciously, relinquishing control to God.  He is caught in my imagination, and I wonder what emotions and struggles he faced before and after coming to that conclusion of obedience and faith in God...

Back to our regularly scheduled program:  To help your child hide God's Word in her heart, memorize Ephesians 4:32 with her using these hand motions, and spend the week together "catching" others in the act of helping your child.

Ephesians 4:32           (cup hands around mouth)

Be kind                       (make an exaggerated happy face and point to your cheeks with both index fingers)

and compassionate    (give yourself a hug)

to one another            (point to everyone else)

forgiving each other  (give someone next to you a hug)

just as in Christ,        (point up)

God forgave you.       (point to yourself)

Go ahead, be silly with it and have lots of fun!  (Very young children might want to try a shorter version, "Be kind and compassionate to one another.")

This week, your kindergarten through fifth graders learned how important it is to take time to say thank you.  In our Bible story (Luke 17:11-19), Jesus helped 10 lepers and changed their lives for the better, but only one of the healed men came back to say, "Thanks."  We need to slow down long enough to see what God has done and is doing.  

 

Gratitude is when we take time to let God and others know that you see how they've helped you. Who needs to hear words of gratitude from you or your child this week?  During MEAL TIME (maybe even Thanksgiving dinner), name some people who have helped you.  Then take it a step further: make a phone call, write a note, wrap up some leftovers, draw a picture, send some flowers...whatever it takes to show that person that you noticed them helping you and that you are thankful for their help.  And don't forget to tell God "thank You," for all of His help, too!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!