Building a Better World for Children

Source: blog.worldvision.org via Speakable Gifts on Pinterest

Be Right Out!

Phillis Wheatley, a Christian Heroine

Phillis Wheatley is one of my favorite heroes of the faith. I think it’s not just the fact that she and I are of the same ethnicity. More than that, it’s because she was a writer. And much of her heroism, in addition to her sterling character, was in her writing. There are many people whom I admire because of their writing. It’s close to my heart, you know, because I want to serve the Lord in written words above all else. What I have and hope to commit to paper will never measure up to that which was penned by this little “lowly” slave girl who accomplished so much above all the odds against her.

Please, read her story to your children. Hers is an important account of what can be achieved by human tenacity and will. I’ll let you read this tremendous tribute to this wonderful person at this site. Ask your children what they’ve learned after you read it to them. Or as a great homeschool language arts or social studies assignment, print out the story and have them write a paragraph or two about what they have learned after reading the story of this remarkable American who was a Christian hero. 

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Imitation

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. ~ James Baldwin

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me, this I know,

For the Bible tells me so;

Little ones to him belong,

They are weak but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

~ Anna B. Warner

Could we all say a hearty thank you to Anna Warner for this wonderful hymn? And her sister too. Miss Warner's sister Susan also was a writer and this text was a part of a novel they wrote together called Say and Seal. The book was a very good seller in their day (in the nineteenth century). Actually the words of this hymn were a poem which one of the characters in the story spoke as comfort to a dying child. They're wonderful words and how blessed these two sisters would be if they knew the impact they would have down through the years. If you'd like to be blessed, read about the lives of Anna and her sister Susan. You will be struck by the richness of lives such as theirs. 

Stories abound about this hymn. You'd be surprised at the number of adults for whom it remained a favorite, such as Francis Schaeffer. The most enthusiastic singing would come at our church's nursing home ministry when this song was sung. As Mr. Schaeffer has said, while people need intellectual answers to their questions, they also need a direct message to their heart. "Jesus Loves Me" does that. It speaks directly to the hearts of young people, but also to us of all ages.

I firmly believe, as did the Warner sisters no doubt, that what we learn as children is best learned. While salvation is from God, and cannot be passed on by us, the truths that lead to a person's conversion can be firmly implanted in childhood and who knows when and how God will use them.

So teach your children these truths. Teach them that the love of Jesus is the best love there is.

Lovingly, Maxine a/k/a Nanna

(Painting by Arthur John Elsley)

 
Train up a child in the way he should go - but be sure you go that way yourself. -Charles Spurgeon

One Hundredth Day Project

Just wanted to share my granddaughter's 100 day project they did in their homeschool yesterday. There's lots of ideas floating around for these projects, and this is another one that she, mom, and little sister did together. They thought up the idea themselves, and it's a basket of flowers with one hundred things she's learned so far. It's also a basket of blessings if you ask me. What a fun project it was!

Maxine a/k/a Nanna

Nigerian Special Children

Something for you and your children to pray about. There are so many youngsters around the world in need of prayers and sometimes there may be other ways to help. Just a little more info on happenings in Nigeria. Please read this article at the Persecution blog, perhaps during family devotions where you can talk and pray about it as a family.

Happy February