Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God;
everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
For the past month, our sermon series has paired children’s books with some of Paul’s teachings and exhortations from Ephesians 4. Of course, in four weeks we can scarcely scratch the surface of the rich trove of children’s books that teach, enrich, and delight children of all ages. But perhaps this brief tour has provided a reminder of the value and power of children’s books, not only to entertain but to raise important questions and to help form virtues.
As I was growing up, we shared numerous children’s books. Mom and Dad read to Phyllis and me from our children’s Bible until we learned how to read, then we’d take turns reading to them. I suspect I garnered some early preaching skills from hearing my Dad’s expressive and dramatic readings. In grade school, Mom read with us the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder and C. S. Lewis’ Narnia series, which included The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. During my teen years, I moved on to The Screwtape Letters by Lewis and The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. Those stories, along with many others, nourished my young faith, fired my imagination, and helped shape my developing worldview.
Perhaps there are few pleasures like passing on the stories you cherished as a child to your own kids or children you love. This was certainly true for Carrie and myself as our girls were growing up. Sharing rich and meaningful stories is one way we deepen human connection, not only in our families, but also in our church community. As parents, grandparents, and friends, we have a golden opportunity to share with our children the various books which can nurture their souls and enhance their developing faith.
One of my all-time favorite children’s stories is “The Sneetches,” by Dr. Seuss. It is a fun story to read and dramatize and it carries a vital message. If you know it, chances are you already love it. If you don’t, I heartily recommend you go read it this week, preferably out loud with a child or two nearby. This rollicking tale, with a clever con artist named Sylvester McMonkey McBean, helps illustrate the foolishness of snobbish elitism and invites us to appreciate our shared humanity (or Sneetchiness) with all our fellow humans. It’s as relevant today as it was in 1961 when it was published.
While I’m not a grandpa just yet, one of the things I’m greatly looking forward to is the chance to share beloved books with future grandkids. May God bless you as you also share your beloved stories to the generations that follow you.
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