“APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS”

When I was young, this was a common spring rhyme shared on the playground, but I learned later that the root of this children’s verse was the opening lines of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, written in the late 14th century, translated into modern English here:

When in April the sweet showers fall

That pierce March's drought to the root and all

And bathed every vein in liquor that has power

To generate therein and sire the flower

Undoubtedly, humankind has been contemplating causes and effects of natural phenomena for centuries – and using ideas found in the everyday (or every season) to help comment, perhaps satirically, on cultural and societal conditions of the current times. Chaucer did this masterfully, and as many high school or college students in literature classes know, we read his collection of pilgrims’ stories to learn how to use language playfully and seriously to critique what is happening in our world.

Parents, we can learn from Chaucer and the playground rhyme alike! Kids need the silly and the serious from their mom and dad to learn about the world. They need to experiment with cause and effect and discover the reaction which ensues after they act in particular ways. We often forget that our kids are testing us, not always purposely, determining if our answers to their questions are consistent and true. Kids need to know that they can trust us, especially when so much is changing in their little worlds.

‍When trust is reinforced regularly in the home and in their communities, kids open up to learning deep, spiritual truths. When kids have their ears open and minds focused, the content you are sharing becomes louder and more meaningful in their hearts. Toward the end of Psalm 22 – a powerful, prophetic psalm from David about the suffering of the Messiah to come – we hear that our children will hear about Jesus. Would you like to be the person to share Jesus with your child?

‍Our children will also serve him.

    Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.

His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.

    They will hear about everything he has done.

Psalm 22: 30-31 NLT

Inevitably, all God’s children will hear about Jesus. Just like rain will fall each year, and flowers will grow each spring, people will keep telling the good news of Jesus – the source of abundant life! As children receive this good news and find their identity in Jesus, it’s much easier for them to navigate the hills and valleys of culture and society today. Wouldn’t it be fun to be part of the telling? 

‍“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. Deuteronomy 30:19-20a NLT

‍So this Easter, I urge you to choose to tell your child the good news of Jesus. Even if the story has been told in your home before. Let the story fall like raindrops onto their mind and heart, and give your child time to ask questions. Allow their connection to God to germinate and hopefully grow into a perennial flower of faith.

‍A Child’s Prayer

God, make my life a little light,

   Within the world to glow;

A little flame that burneth bright,

   Wherever I may go.

God, make my life a little flower,

   That giveth joy to all,

Content to bloom in native bower,

   Although the place be small.

God, make my life a little song,

   That comforteth the sad,

That helpeth others to be strong,

   And makes the singer glad.

- M. Betham-Edwards

‍

Grace and peace,

Annikki

P.S. The HOW of telling Jesus’ story to your child can metamorphize over time. Reading simple storybooks can introduce Jesus to babies and toddlers. Reading and asking questions from children’s Bibles works well for grade schoolers. Going deeper in middle and high school is important – not only reading the Bible text together, but also having conversations before and after interacting with quality media or other sources like The Chosen, The Case for Christ or The Passion of the Christ (this last one is meant for upper high school or adults, as the movie is graphically violent).

‍

Resources for Parents:

• The Easter Story, Pingry
• The Tale of Three Trees, Hunt
• The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross, Laferton (new to me, but looks well-reviewed by a variety of people)
• The Jesus Storybook Bible, Lloyd-Jones 
• Laugh & Grow Bible for Kids, Vischer
• The Adventure Bible, Zondervan
• Kids’ Visual Study Bible, Zondervan
• The Man Born to be King, Sayers (audiobook – well done, good for preteens - high school, mentioned last month, but worth repeating)

‍

What Epic Kids  are learning in April:

‍