But my faith is so tiny!
Children's Activity
Object:
I have a lot of childhood memories of watching things grow, mainly because my mother was an avid gardener. Because of this, gardening has shaped a lot of my theology. I learned about birth, death and resurrection by planting bulbs. I learned about stewardship by fertilizing, weeding and pruning. I also learned that a tiny seed can grow into a powerful plant. That is what today's reading is all about: understanding what's possible from just a tiny speck of faith.
Faith isn't easy to define for children, but in some ways, children don't need faith explained. Children don't have the problem with faith that adults do. Grownups are the ones that struggle the most! Somehow as we become rational adults we begin to see how improbable some things are. In a recent Christmas movie, one of Santa's helpers says, "Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing." How scriptural! Believe it first and then your heart will begin to understand.
Plant some seeds this week with your children. If you want to see something grow quickly, plant bean seeds. By the end of the week you'll see shoots coming through the soil. If you're willing to wait a little while, plant any kind of seed you like. Look at the seed before you plant it. Notice how small it is. (Carrot seeds are almost invisible!) See if you can find a picture of what it will look like when it's grown. How is it possible for something so small to grow into something so big? Does that one little seed already hold that whole big plant?
As you are planting the tiny seed, see if you can find a place in your life where your faith is tiny. Where do you have a hard time trusting God? As you and your family watch the seed grow, see if you can watch your faith grow too. Pray together. Encourage each other. While your tiny seed grows and becomes an amazing new creation, you can too.
Faith isn't easy to define for children, but in some ways, children don't need faith explained. Children don't have the problem with faith that adults do. Grownups are the ones that struggle the most! Somehow as we become rational adults we begin to see how improbable some things are. In a recent Christmas movie, one of Santa's helpers says, "Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing." How scriptural! Believe it first and then your heart will begin to understand.
Plant some seeds this week with your children. If you want to see something grow quickly, plant bean seeds. By the end of the week you'll see shoots coming through the soil. If you're willing to wait a little while, plant any kind of seed you like. Look at the seed before you plant it. Notice how small it is. (Carrot seeds are almost invisible!) See if you can find a picture of what it will look like when it's grown. How is it possible for something so small to grow into something so big? Does that one little seed already hold that whole big plant?
As you are planting the tiny seed, see if you can find a place in your life where your faith is tiny. Where do you have a hard time trusting God? As you and your family watch the seed grow, see if you can watch your faith grow too. Pray together. Encourage each other. While your tiny seed grows and becomes an amazing new creation, you can too.
