When Jesus wanted to teach us about God, His love, and His purpose, He used stories!  When He wanted to teach us about how to treat others, He used stories.   When He wanted to show us how to live, He used stories.

If you’re someone who can disappear into a book, then you know the impact of “story”. Even if you’re someone who loves to watch movies or a good series on TV, you realize and appreciate the impact of a good story.     We like to tune out the fears and worries of the world in the evening and tune into a story that takes us to another place and time.

With realizing how impactful stories can be, whether through books or movies, it is important for us to choose carefully what our children read, hear, and process.  We don’t have complete control over what our kids hear at school or preschool, on the bus, at sporting events and practices.    They will see and hear things that they don’t understand or things that confuse them.   Conversations will be needed- when we are lucky enough for them to bring these topics to our attention.

Young children are being presented with choices at very young ages today; choices that they may not yet be ready to make.  Reading them stories from the Bible, stories of people who struggled and persevered, stories of people who walked in great faith, and stories of folks who helped others, can have influence.   Maybe your own story, Mom or Dad, Grandma or Papi, can have a beautiful influence on the little ones in your life.   Share it 😊.

This influence can come in the form of encouragement, healing, or inspiration. Notice, watch and listen, to what our little ones are saying and what they may be worried about.  Notice what brings anxiety or fear into their lives.   Then, seek out stories with characters that they can connect with.  Help them turn their own stories into ones of healing and hope by providing examples of grace or triumph.

The Little Engine That Could, is so much more than a story of an engine climbing up a hill.  Why do we like it so much?  Because it’s our story.  It’s the story we each live as we struggle through “whatever”! Let’s help our little ones write their own stories, girded in faith and confidence in whatever comes their way.  Choosing stories that reinforce that they are loved and that they have purpose helps them write their own beautiful stories. Since Jesus used stories to teach, we can’t go wrong following His lead.

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