The Choices…
We learned about Noah yesterday in children’s church, and the lesson was that he obeyed God. My oldest son continued the conversation later when he asked, “what happened to the other people?” I answered some questions, and we talked for awhile about how Noah had the choice to disobey God. He could’ve asked “why?” or just chosen not to listen and do whatever he wanted. Instead he obeyed, and his family and the animals were saved. (I was a little too grateful for this lesson on obedience!)
The other thing I find amazing about Noah is how he continued working, even when he surely became the laughingstock. He didn’t admit defeat when he ran into problems, he didn’t stop just because he was being ridiculed, yet all along he had the choice to stop.
I wonder how many times I have pondered too much, asked to0 many questions, instead of just doing what I know I need to do? I wonder how many times I’ve thought, “but what would people think?” and let that be the judge of my actions, instead of the question, “what is the wise thing to do?”
…It’s also funny to me how often I get so much from the childrens’ lessons at church.
April 20th, 2009 at 10:46 am
I think sometimes the views of a child take us back to our own childhood. We can recall things that are from the depths of our brain! Children are so impressionable; they absorb things & process them so much differently. They don’t have those points of reference to go to yet. They are building their base of knowledge.
Adults on the other hand have to sort thru everything we have learned over the years & decide what relates to what the child is asking. I like things simple. A child’s question may sound simple, but answering it simply is hard sometimes. Too much information will confuse them, I think. It’s a great job to be able to tie things together for them. In terms they understand.
The great thing is that even when they are 22 they ask for clarification & answers. They have adult thinking, but it’s a new phase of life and a little scary. When they still look to Mom & Dad for answers and that is a good sign that over the years a bond of trust has formed. That is great feeling.
April 20th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
I think I learn more from my kids lessons than any others.
April 20th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I’ve learned a lot from children’s Sunday school lessons. My granddaughter has been learning so much and so good to see her absorbing it all.
I also get a lot from songs too. One that comes to mind is Todd Agnew’s “My Jesus”. The words of that song really makes me stop and think.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I love the black and white truth of it all when you look at things from a child’s perspective. That’s something that tends to get lost as we grow older and truth gets hidden in relativity and worldliness.
We’re working on the whole “obey” thing right now, as our daughter is practicing being two (she wants to be really good at it before she actually turns two). She was just given an old Noah’s Ark soft plush boat with animals. Maybe we can work him into the obedience lessons…