Maybe you've wanted to teach your kids how to memorize scripture, but just don't know where to start. Perhaps you desire to train your kids in godliness, but you are bogged down by breaking up arguments and constant whining from your kids. If you are a parent of young kids and either of these scenarios ring true, this book will point you in the right direction and give you the tools you need to move forward.
I heard Susan Hunt speak at a conference many years ago, which is how I was made aware of this little gem. When I first opened this book, which appears to be like any other picture book for young children, I quickly realized it wasn't just another picture book and that this resource was going to help me teach and guide my kids. I believe My ABC Bible Verses is what set the stage for giving me practical direction in parenting and in utilizing God’s Word to do so.
THE CONTENT
The book is laid out in 26 stories, one for each letter of the alphabet. Each letter has a Bible verse that goes along with it. I used this so much that I can practically rattle off all of the verses by heart! Some examples are:
A – “A soft answer turns away wrath.”
Proverbs 15:1
B- “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.”
Matthew 5:9
C- “Children obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.”
Colossians 3:20
D- “Do all things without complaining and disputing.”
Philippians 2:14
I often lightheartedly jest to young parents that even if you concentrate on just the first four verses and lessons, a lot of great character training can happen with these concepts alone. I mean, imagine a home where kids don’t use angry voices, choose to make peace in tough situations, obey parents in all things, and do everything without complaining. That sounds like a pretty great environment to me and a great start to training your children in godly character.
Most of the stories in the book are about a young girl named Missy and her brother Bill and each scenario lays out an example of something happening in life that kids can relate to, such as a toy being snatched out of a sibling’s hands or a child complaining when a parent asks them to clean up something at home. Sound familiar?
HOW I USED IT
If I remember correctly or even if I had to do this all over again, I would read one story with my kids and we would talk about it. We would practice saying the verse. I would likely repeat this story every day for a week and we would review the verse each day. Or, instead of re-reading the story each day, you could talk about the story and see if the kids remember what happened. Keep your discussion fun and engaging. I would highly recommend making memorization of the verses top priority. Write each verse on a 3x5 card. Draw a big letter “A” to correspond with the A verse, etc. You can draw a block letter and let your child color it in or have them decorate the back of the card. As you move on through the weeks, practice each verse that you have done so far. When you are in the car, ask, “Does anyone know our “C” verse?” You can quiz them in the bathtub or on a walk or have them show dad or grandma or grandpa what they are learning. You will be amazed at how well kids (even really young kids) can learn to memorize God’s Word.
You can expand the concept and have the kids act out scenarios you come up with where the verse would come in handy to guide them in responding in a way that honors God. You could also use stuffed animals or puppets to do the same. So much good comes from teaching and training our kids in neutral times instead of primarily trying to teach and train as a result of things going awry.
APPLYING IT
The great news with kids is that you will get plenty of real-life opportunities to practice these concepts. But the better news is that instead of simply telling them to stop a behavior or saying, “Because I said so” or “That’s not how we act” as your reason they should do something differently, you have now taught them a concept ahead of time and you are prepared with tools to use when something actually goes down. More importantly, your kids will learn how God tells all of us to live. We as parents are under the same authority that our kids are, which also means we must practice soft answers, being peacemakers, obeying God, and doing everything without complaining, etc. When we fall short in our kids' presence or toward our kids, we should be quick to let them know so and to apologize specifically and in line with what we are teaching them. "I should not have complained when you accidentally spilled your milk today. God tells us to do all things without complaining and I should have happily helped you clean up your mess. Accidents happen. Will you forgive me?"
Back to the real-life opportunities (and they are opportunities) with our kids...
Let’s say Sarah hopped down from the lunch table and went straight to playing, but you are teaching her to take her plate and bowl to the sink or dishwasher right after she is finished. You call her back into the kitchen to do so and she responds with a huff and slumped shoulders as she walks back to comply. You say, “Sarah, remember what we learned for the D verse? What does God tell us about complaining?” Hopefully she remembers the verse and if not, you can remind her. Then say, “I’d like for you to go back to where you were playing. Let’s try this again so you can practice responding the way God wants you to.” And then you repeat the scenario and give her a chance to do all things without complaining (because a huff and slumped shoulders are a form of complaining).
Later that day (or maybe even ten minutes after the “D” scenario with Sarah), you get an opportunity to practice one of these concepts with little Oliver. He was adorably laying on his stomach, busy coloring Spider Man swinging on his web from one building to the next when baby Laura crawls right over the top of his paper and wrinkles it. Oliver’s immediate reaction was to scream at his sister for ruining his masterpiece. Thankfully, you have talked through the “A” lesson and can step in and remind Oliver how to stop himself and use “a soft answer” with his sister. So, you model this for him. You say, “Oliver, what does the A verse say?” After going over the verse, you tell him, “What you can say is ‘Oh no! Laura, you wrinkled my paper. Please don’t do that again.’” You can talk him through the fact that she is a baby and doesn’t understand what she is doing. You can explain that maybe the kitchen table would be a safer place to color. But, most importantly, you can affirm to him that while it was frustrating, we should choose to treat people with kindness, because that’s what God tells us to do. Using a soft answer will not stir up anger in ourselves and others. So, have Oliver go back and redo the scenario. Have him lay down again with his artwork and say, “Imagine Laura just crawled over your paper and wrinkled it. Now, what could you say that would honor God?” I would also have Oliver apologize to his sister for being harsh with her and not using a "soft answer."
As far as instances where the C verse can be applied (“Children obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord”), I could write at least a whole blog post on this topic alone. Teaching our children to obey us and for them to know that this pleases God might be the single most important piece of character training in our children’s early years.
This type of character training sounds tedious and time consuming. It is. But, by teaching your kids God’s Word and what He requires of all of us and by having them practice God honoring behavior, you will be able to handle situations with wisdom and you will be able to guide them in wisdom. The proactive, diligent, and consistent work pays huge dividends. The groundwork for knowing God’s ways and stopping themselves (self-control) in order to choose how to act or speak in a way that is in line with God’s Word will benefit your kids for the rest of their lives.
I once heard a definition of wisdom that I had my kids memorize.
Wisdom is the ability to choose the most God-honoring course of action in any situation.
You are training them in wisdom, even at a very young age.
Parents, we ourselves must understand that God has instructed us to teach and train our children diligently. God is the Creator of the world and everything (and everyone) in it. He designed life itself and knows best how it works. He is the master of healthy relationships. Let us follow His design and, in turn, teach this to our kids.
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it".
Proverbs 22:6
"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up".
Deuteronomy 6:6-8
May God guide you and bless you as you work diligently to teach and train your children in His ways!
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