Tomorrow is the first day of Autumn. We’ll watch the leaves dry up in the waning sunlight, just to be pinched off their twig by a gust of chilly wind and tossed to the ground with a crunch. Winter will follow, with life lurking beneath what appears to be dead. This is the perfect time to help our children understand the truth of life out of death.
God has shown us His redemptive plan through His own creation and the change of seasons. Are you ready to watch the show of color that comes with Autumn? This year, do more than ooh and aah; use the teachable moment. Prepare yourself with the words of John 12:23-25 so you are ready to “teach them diligently to your children … talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise,” (from Deut. 6:7).
And Jesus answered them,
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
As our kids watch the seasonal fall display, we can seize the teachable moment and help them understand important truths about God’s plan for their lives. Consider the age level of your child and give them bite sized principles they can mentally and emotionally digest. Use this creation lesson to help them grasp God’s beautiful plan to redeem us through Jesus and His plan to use us to bring life to others.
- Jesus died so we can live again.
- When we give away time and energy for others, we bear fruit.
- When our selfish ways die, others can find life.
- If we live for things on earth, they won’t last.
- If we live for things in heaven, we’ll keep that fruit forever.
Happy Autumn, and let’s be moms who use the new season to bring understanding of new life!
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