We were talking as a staff this week about how we create an environment in which children learn to love God. Obviously there are many ways that we do this at school, but we are reviewing these practices and embarking on a period of new learning and reflection so that we can integrate faith in natural ways into our day.
"Wonder is the basis for worship" was a phrase that struck me when I was starting KingsWay, and it is a valuable reminder to us as parents.
When my children were small, I remember Ben coming to me over and over with litte bugs that he had found in the garden. To be honest, seeing the third cicada for the day wasn't on my list of joys. However, I distinctly remember it dawning on me that how I responded to his enthusiasm over a bug or beetle was significant for him and was an opportunity to develop a sense of wonder and awe. It became an intentional practice for me to try and choose to respond to him and his sisters as often as possible with a "Wow, isn't it amazing the way God has made that!" kind of response. This was instrumental in helping, in a natural way, for wonder to result in a simple thought of worship.
Another time, I recall driving down our road one early evening to see a most beautiful sunset. It would have been easy to ignore it, but I decided to pull over and enjoy it quietly with 5 year old Ben and his sisters, and to thank God, and then we drove home and got some paints out and painted a picture of the sunset.
Often in the course of the day, I learned to find small ways to help the children turn their thoughts towards God - gratitude is easy, awe and wonder is easy, compassionate prayer is easy.
These little practices take very brief moments, and are very formative for children, who have a natural awareness of God. At school, we are discussing ways of integrating wonder, awe, compassion, gratitude into our days.
Join us in the journey!
Helen
"Wonder is the basis for worship" was a phrase that struck me when I was starting KingsWay, and it is a valuable reminder to us as parents.
When my children were small, I remember Ben coming to me over and over with litte bugs that he had found in the garden. To be honest, seeing the third cicada for the day wasn't on my list of joys. However, I distinctly remember it dawning on me that how I responded to his enthusiasm over a bug or beetle was significant for him and was an opportunity to develop a sense of wonder and awe. It became an intentional practice for me to try and choose to respond to him and his sisters as often as possible with a "Wow, isn't it amazing the way God has made that!" kind of response. This was instrumental in helping, in a natural way, for wonder to result in a simple thought of worship.
Another time, I recall driving down our road one early evening to see a most beautiful sunset. It would have been easy to ignore it, but I decided to pull over and enjoy it quietly with 5 year old Ben and his sisters, and to thank God, and then we drove home and got some paints out and painted a picture of the sunset.
Often in the course of the day, I learned to find small ways to help the children turn their thoughts towards God - gratitude is easy, awe and wonder is easy, compassionate prayer is easy.
These little practices take very brief moments, and are very formative for children, who have a natural awareness of God. At school, we are discussing ways of integrating wonder, awe, compassion, gratitude into our days.
Join us in the journey!
Helen
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