Sunbeams and Sunshine

King words are like sunbeams

That sparkle as they fall;

And loving smiles are sunshine,

A light of joy to all.

~ Anon.

Needy and Beautiful

At Pinterest we have two boards with various photos of children. One is called "Needy Children" and one is called "Beautiful Children." I have to say that there are some photos I run across where I'm not sure which board to pin them on, and in many of these cases I choose just one even though a particular photo would be appropriate on both. Such was the case with this particular pin. It most certainly would be a pin for the "Needy Children" board but in this case what grabbed me most is how beautiful these two children are. I don't need to elaborate. It's there for you to see.

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net via Speakable Gifts on Pinterest

Leave it to Beaver

 Wikepedia photo

As most of us know, Leave it to Beaver was a situation comedy which aired on regular network TV from 1957 to 1963, which would be roughly six years duration. For a show to last that long on the networks would indicate some measure of success I would say. Lately, we've been watching the series on Antenna TV, a digital TV network (whatever that means) and may I say, thoroughly enjoying it. The thought occurred to me last night that in the day we now find ourselves, I doubt if this show would make it for a month, let alone six years. 

There aren't many spiritual implications in the show's lessons, even though in a recent episode they were all making ready to go to church together. But what a delight to see a father who leads his family, a wife who's really into her husband and kids, parents who are committed to each other and their children (with even a few realistic disagreements thrown in) and young people who refer to their parents and other adults by the terms "sir" and "maam." Seeing Beaver and his classmates responding to their teacher with "Yes, Miss Landers" is music to the ears. I like it that the boys often make wrong choices, and that the consequences for those poor choices come through loud and clear. As put by Wikipedia: "The adult viewer enjoys Beaver's adventures while discovering tips for teaching children correct behavior and methods for successfully handling common childhood problems." So true that is and that is what I like so much about the series.

Although Leave it to Beaver would undoubtedly be considered a fail in today's society, for me, my late evening encounters with the Cleaver family have been a breath of fresh air. I wish you and your family might have opportunity to watch it too, and that your children would find it enjoyable. I think parents would appreciate the many little lessons from the every day family experiences that are there.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

The Lion and the Mouse

Do you know much about mice? In case you don’t, I will tell you a little bit
about them. Mice are very little animals with long, skinny tails. Some people
think they are cute; many people do not. Actually, mice are rodents. That
means they belong to a family of animals that have front teeth that are quite
strong. In fact, rodents can gnaw hard objects like wood, and their teeth
continue to grow most of their lives. So, you see, the teeth of a mouse are
very useful to him to survive in this world. A mouse is usually quite timid,
though. His teeth help him to live and eat, but he can’t really fight with them
or scare other animals with them because he is so small compared to most
animals. In fact, there are many animals that eat mice.

A lion, on the other hand, can and does scare other animals with his teeth.
You know all about lions, I am sure. You know how scary a lion is. He is even
called “King of the Jungle” because he is so feared.

There was a time, it is said, that a mouse ran across the body of a sleeping
lion by mistake. We do not need to tell you how very afraid the poor tiny
mouse was when the lion woke up and grabbed this shaking little fellow in
his paws. He had every reason to be scared since the lion was about to eat
him. “Please Mr. Lion,” pleaded the mouse, “let me go this time and I will
always remember your kindness. Maybe someday I can pay you back and
help you.”   Well, the lion thought this was so funny that he let his little
captive go.

Wouldn’t you know that It was just a couple of weeks later that the lion got
caught in a huge net which had been left by some hunters. He could not free
himself and began to roar loudly in dismay. Guess who heard him? That’s
right, the little mouse whom he had let go. His little “friend” came running at
the sound of the lion’s roars. The mouse gnawed and gnawed on the ropes
with those strong front teeth and before long the lion was set free and went
home.

~ Retold by M. Randall

(This is our latest Speakable to be posted. Please click on the "Aesop" tab above to take you to the page. So what does this particular fable teach us? Wonderful lessons for our children, as always. I see courage, gratefulness, loyalty, and mercy. You may see even more. Why not let this story teach your kids some of these things? As always with our Speakables, we have suggestions.)

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

For your little ones,

Forward March

(From Snoopy Facebook)

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