Today we heard about how David- the same boy who defeated Goliath with God's help- was a shepherd boy who grew up to be a King and musician. We talked about farmers who take care of their animals and how a shepherd is a lot like a farmer who just takes care of sheep.
So first, we heard the story of David defending his sheep from a lion and a bear (and a puma and coyote and fox), with God's help. We thought about how David protected his sheep and how God protected David. We thought about how God protects us, even from things that are large and scary and more than we could do on our own. We thought about how God makes us feel safe.
We made a green pasture and quite waters in which our sheep our sheep could feel safe.
Then we played music like King David and sang a song that he wrote, which we call Psalm 23 (I attempted to put the words to the tune of Baa Baa Black sheep). It is about how David is like a sheep and God is his shepherd. Consider reading Psalm 23 with your family this week and think about how God is our shepherd.
The kids were rock stars today. Can't wait to see them next week.
Confession: This idea of safety is one that I struggle with as a parent. I want my child to feel safe and know that, with God's help, I will do everything in my power to protect them. But, I recognize that they cannot always be safe and harm can happen. I worry that if I only teach them about God keeping them safe from harm, that if someone was harmed, they would see this as God's failure. In Sunday School at this age, I realize that we are teaching the about God's GREAT love for man and have yet to introduce man's GREAT brokenness. Maybe we as parents can think about how and when we want to introduce this concept to our kids in the future... thanks for journeying with me!
Great thought on "safety" Laura. I remember Tim Dearborn preaching a sermon where he confessed that his primary prayer for his (grown) daughter had been for her safety on this trip she took to the middle east, and how, perhaps, he had been praying the wrong prayer all along, that the language of New Testament prayer doesn't leave a lot of room for prayers for safety, at least, physical safety. Perhaps part of this discussion is a re-definition of the kind of safety it is we're talking about.
ReplyDeleteI also appreciate your "safety confession". In my limited experience with children, it seems that when they are ready to have a greater understanding of the complexities of brokenness, they'll ask questions. The real problems arise when we shun questions. I know so many young adults who have left church because they felt it was a place where they could not expose their doubt and struggles. I am confident that as these preschoolers grow, Sanctuary will be able to accept and love them in every step of their faith journey.
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