I was reading a book to my two year old class this week about a rooster who wanted to see the world, so he set out one morning on his adventure. As he went along, he met other animals and invited them to join him. When the sun went down they got hungry, cold, and sleepy. Then they all began to, one by one, go back home.
Having just said goodbye to my son who left for his adventure, I liked the fact that they all decided to go back home . . . that sounded good to me. But at the end of the story, all the rooster did when he got home was eat a good meal of grain and go to sleep and only dream about a trip around the world.
God has a “dream” for each of us – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11) We need to encourage our children that even though they might get hungry, cold, sleepy, or whatever, they should still follow the dream God has for them. This might not be pleasant for us as parents. But as my brother-in-law once said as his daughter was moving to another country to work with a missionary, “I would rather have her in the center of God’s will in a foreign country than here at home out of God’s will.”
I have decided I don’t want my children just dreaming about their adventure in life like the rooster in the story. I want them living it to the fullest even if that means they are not at home. I want them following the passions that God has uniquely placed within each of them, even if it is sometimes difficult for them . . . and for me. (Someone may need to remind me I said this in the days ahead!)
Well said. I’d love to see that book. Love you!
Awesome post! I hope I remember that when it’s time for my children to leave!
by the way, do you know a good place to order some good resources to teach charactor qualities to a Kindergartner and a K4 boys? I looked through the CBD website and really didn’t see much. Blessings! Lindsay
Lindsay,
Thanks for reading my blog. I like reading yours as well.
I really can’t point to one book of character qualities, but I am sure there must be some. I have kinda made my own character lessons using the character qualities that Bill Gothard uses in his character sketches. I have used his definitions sometimes or have come up with a simpler definition, made up a song about it, tried to find some Bible stories or children’s books that show that character quality. I spend a month on each character quality, using the term and pointing it out in all we do. Some of the ones I have used this year are on the blog. Hopefully this summer I will have time to put more on there.
Billy bought a book to read to Grant that you might be interested in. It is called God’s Wisdom for Little Boys by Jim and Elizabeth George.
Sorry I can’t be of more help.