Author: S. J. Little

Illuminated Trees

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

With a sigh, I sank into the rocking chair in the quiet room.

What a busy day. The older kids were finally in bed and nearly asleep now.

Alone for the first time all day, I let my eyes scan the scene out my window. The sky behind the house tops and trees carried the deep blue of a recent rainstorm.

My gaze shifted to the room around me as I turned to prayer for discernment regarding an allegory to write next.

When I turned back to the window, the trees caught my attention. They glowed!

The sinking sun behind my house shone brilliantly on the trees, making them stand out vividly against the dark sky.

Just like that, I had an allegory to write. (This one that you are reading now.)

Those trees, so ordinary to me because I saw them every day, stood out now in unmistakable beauty.

I noticed one of the many chimneys visible from my window glowing in stunning sharpness. The rest of the chimneys remained their typical grey and steel.

I pulled out my phone to record these thoughts.

When I paused to look out the window again, lower clouds had drifted into view. They were illuminated against the dark clouds.

An airplane flew by, gleaming in the sunshine.

What a lovely scene.

A few minutes later, the trees faded into typical shades, boring compared to what they had just been. Yet the sky behind them shone cheery pink in the setting sun’s rays.

So what is the allegory, you may be wondering.

To me, this scene of stunning contrast is a picture of how God so often speaks through the Bible.

As someone who has read the entire Bible many times, no passage is brand new to me.

Just like the trees outside my window, the Bible stories, at first glance, are normal.

I should mention that, on the average day, it is not uncommon for my husband and I to comment to each other how pleasant the scene outside our window is with trees and sky, chimneys and airplanes. That said, it is very routine for me to see this scene.

Likewise, reading God’s Word is precious and wonderful, an incredible privilege. Yet I have read it before. It isn’t shiny new.

This evening, however, looking out the window, those trees looked new. They stood out stunningly in the brilliant light of the evening sun.

So often, this is how God speaks through His Word, the Bible. He shines His “Son-shine,” if you will, on a passage making it jump from the page in a way I’ve never noticed before.

The passage comes alive.

If I never took the time to look out the window, and left the blinds closed, I would not see the illuminated trees.

If I never took the time to read the Bible, but left it closed on the shelf, I would miss what God wants to say to me through it.

If I only ever approached the window as a to-do task – to clean the window pane and wipe the dust from the sill – I would very possibly miss seeing the beautiful scene outside.

If I only ever read the Bible to check it off my to-do list, I may or may not notice what God is wanting to say to me.

Indeed there are many days when my Bible reading feels like no more than a task to get done. (This is far better than not opening it at all.)

But what if today, I remember to pause as I go to open my Bible, to ask God to tune my heart to His by teaching me something as I read the Bible.

It may not be fireworks or lightning, but far more often than not, if I slow down, turning my attention towards God as I open the Bible, He has something to teach me.

Oftentimes it is a gentle reminder, or sometimes a new depth of understanding. Occasionally it is a vivid instruction.

Yet how would I hear and learn unless I opened the Bible and began to read?

Likewise, how would I have seen the brilliant trees outside my window, if I had left the curtains closed?

“Your word is a lamp for my feet
and a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 CSB

Today, may I make time to seek God through reading the Bible. He will meet me there.

If you are new to reading the Bible, I highly recommend starting with the book of John.

 

If you are looking for a Bible reading plan, or simply a way to record which chapters you’ve read, I encourage you to print out a copy of my DIY Bible Reading Plan. It’s free for my subscribers. (Already subscribed? Click the Free Downloads link in your email and then scroll down until you find the Bible reading plan).

Bugs – 3.9 – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 3 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 9

Bugs

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more...

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Movement Moment

Stomp A Bug

Supplies:

Prep:

  • Cut out each bug (doesn’t have to be fancy cutting – can be left in loose ovals).
  • Decide which letters or numbers you want to work on with your child. (You can do the numbers of this unit, a few letters, the whole alphabet, or, if doing the activity with only one or two children, the letters of their name. If playing with a large group of children, consider having multiple bugs with each letter.)
  • Write one letter or number on each bug.
  • Clear an area for active play.

Time to Play:

  • Place the bugs on the floor. If they are slippery, consider taping them down.
  • Call out a letter, such as “A”. Have all the children run to find the bug with “A” on it. Continue the fun by calling another letter to run to.
  • Once your children have the hang of the game, consider adding actions as well. For example: “Hop to ‘E’.” Or “Tiptoe to ‘5’.”

Art Activity

Ladybug Painting

Supplies:

  • Red paper
  • Child safe scissors
  • Black paint
  • Small container/plate for putting black paint in
  • Q-tips or other cotton swabs
  • One marker
  • Optional: Googly eyes

Prep:

  • Boldly trace a circle onto the red paper. The circle can be around 4″ or 11cm in diameter.
  • Pour a small amount of black paint into the container (you don’t need much).
  • Create a sample for your child to reference by following the steps below.

Time to Create:

  • Give your child the red paper with the circle traced on it. Have them cut out the circle.
  • Next, using the Q-tip and black paint, help them paint a line for the head and a line to divide the two wings.
  • Let them cover the head with paint and add spots to the wings.
  • Optional: Add googly eyes to the head.

Five-Minute Focus

Let’s Learn Our Numbers

Numbers of the Unit

7 8 9

Number Activity

Supplies: 9 buttons per person (child and teacher)

Time to Learn:

  • Count out 7 buttons. Arrange them in the shape of number seven. Have your child copy with their buttons.
  • Next, count out 8 buttons. Arrange them in the shape of number eight. Have your child copy.
  • Repeat for number 9.                

  • For other letter/number teaching techniques, visit: https://sjlittle.ca/preschool/teaching-the-abcs-at-circle-time/

Let’s Sing

Butterfly, Ladybug, Bumblebee

Let’s Read

The Very Busy Spider

Eric Carle

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

What A Mighty God We Serve

Let’s Read

BIBLE

Read the next story in the picture Bible you are working your way through. Need recommendations for a good Children’s picture Bible? Click Here

Bonus!

Check out to catchy upbeat song “Work Like the Ant” by Amy Essen

Heel Pricks

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

The nurse stepped into our room.

“How’s baby doing?”

I glanced up. “He’s starting to stir. Likely he’ll be hungry soon.“

She took a moment to study our newborn as he lay swaddled in the bassinet.

Next, she turned to the monitor screen showing his heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation.

She checked his IV line. It was still running smoothly.

She turned to us then. “The doctor has ordered some blood work. I’ll have to prick his heel to get 25-30 drops of blood so they can check to see how he’s doing. Are you okay if I go ahead with that?”

My husband and I glanced at each other and nodded. “Yes, go ahead.”

The nurse put a little heat pack on our son’s heel and got to work preparing what was needed.

A minute or two later, she turned back to our newborn.

She took the heat pack off and examined his heel. He already had a few scabs from previous pricks, but she found a new spot.

He was awake now and starting to look for food.

When the nurse pricked his heel, his little face scrunched up and turned red. He began to cry.

The nurse squeezed his heel to get one drop of blood out of his foot and then another. She skillfully collected the sample into a little tube.

I pressed a soother into my newborn’s mouth, but to little avail.

“It’s okay,” I told him. “It’ll help them get you feeling better.”

But he didn’t understand.

He continued to cry – a heart-wrenching newborn cry.

The nurse continued her work.

Finally the nurse had collected enough blood to be able to send it for testing. 

Dodging cords from his monitors, we changed his little diaper, and I picked him up for nursing.

He calmed as soon as I began to nurse him.

We breathed a sigh of relief.

– – – –

Why would we allow someone to intentionally hurt our little guy who had no idea what was going on?

That wasn’t the only time we okayed something that hurt him either.

Even in the first 24 hours of his life outside the womb, my husband gave permission for nurses to do blood work.

Our little boy cried hard each time his heel was pricked. He had no idea what was going on, but he knew something hurt. 

Why would we, as loving parents, allow and even encourage someone to hurt our baby?

Because we knew it might help.

You see, when our little boy was born, he was having difficulty breathing. It was bad enough that they admitted him to the hospital NICU.

After a couple of days on a CPAP machine and oxygen, our son had improved some, but then began to show signs of infection, including in some of his bloodwork. When they put him on antibiotics, he quickly improved.

He had to remain in hospital until his antibiotics were completed because they were given by IV.

What a relief when we could take our baby home with us after a week in the NICU! He transitioned home so smoothly that you’d never know he had needed that extra care.

(A quick shout out to say thank you to the NICU team for their incredible care for the precious little ones in their unit. It was amazing to see the work they do.)

Why share all this? Because my husband pointed out a powerful allegory in the midst of it.

He, as a loving dad, allowed the nurses to prick our little boy and make him bleed. Why? Because he could see the big picture.

My son didn’t understand. All he knew was that something hurt. He couldn’t have even told me that it was his foot. He just knew that something hurt and he didn’t like it.

My newborn did the only thing he knew to do. He cried. 

Did I rebuke my son for crying? No. I almost felt like crying right alongside him. 

Instead, I sought to comfort him and, in a sense, to join him in his suffering.

In comparison to God, I am like my little newborn. 

I am small and helpless.

I do not understand the big picture.

I feel it if something hurts me – oh boy, do I feel it!

I typically have no idea that there might be a purpose behind the pain, nor of what that purpose might be.

God is good, and God is love. He is at work behind the scenes orchestrating everything for His glory and for the good of those who love Him. (Rom. 8:28)

When a heel prick comes in my life (indeed it is when, not if), how should I respond?

First, I find time to take my crying to God.

Just as I didn’t rebuke my newborn for crying, God welcomes me to tell Him how I’m feeling. He cares about me.

If I feel the need, I can even ask God, “Why?”

More likely than not, God will not tell me why on this side of heaven, but I can still ask. 

Then I move on to surrender the whole thing to Him, trusting that He is in control and knows what He is doing even if I don’t know why. 

I turn my eyes upon Jesus. I remind myself of who He is: all-mighty, all-knowing, good, loving, and interested in the details of my life.

While all that is good and deeply valuable, on a practical level, what should I do when my heel is pricked? When grief or unknowns make me stutter?

In the words of Elizabeth Elliott, I “do the next thing.”

I determine the next thing to do, whether that is make supper or pack a hospital bag, and I do it. Sometimes I have to be even more specific when finding the next thing to do: peel the onion… Put a phone charger in the hospital bag… Once that’s done, I can do the next thing.

“Wait for the Lord and keep His way…” (Psalm 37:34)

Next time I have my heel pricked, may I remember to take my emotions to God, to surrender and trust Him, to remind myself who God is, and to do the next thing.

Plants – 3.8 – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 3 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 8

Plants

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more...

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Movement Moment

Four Sides

Supplies:

  • Posters of four general types of plants – tree, bush, flower, grass (Or 4 papers and a marker to create your own simple posters)
  • Tape (or other temporary ways to attach the posters to your wall)

Prep:

  • Clear an area for active running.
  • Attach one poster to each of the four walls of the area.

Time to Play:

  • Invite your children to join you standing at one wall of the running area.
  • Point to the different walls and invite your children to name the posters: tree, bush, flower, grass.
  • Explain that you will be giving instructions about which poster to move to and how to move.
  • Start with a few simple instructions, such as: “Run to the tree.”
  • After a few simple rounds to help understand the game, try changing it up:
    • Stomp
    • Tip-toe
    • Fly
    • Skip
    • Crawl
    • Walk slowly
    • Walk on heals
    • Walk backwards (if a small group)
  • If you have a small number of children, consider letting them take turns giving the instructions.

Art Activity

Dandelion Cutting

Supplies:

  • Yellow paper
  • Regular paper
  • Child scissors
  • A pencil or pen
  • A glue stick
  • Green crayons or pencil crayons, and other colours for finishing the picture

Prep:

  • Draw a 4.5″ or 11 cm diameter circle on each yellow paper (you could trace a roll of masking tape).
  • In the center of that circle, draw a 2″ or 5 cm circle (you could trace a paper towel roll).
  • Follow the instructions below in “Time to Create” section to make an example of the craft to show your children.

Time to Create:

  • Show your children the example of the dandelion picture you made ahead of time.
  • Show your child the yellow paper. Instruct them to cut out the large circle (and not do anything with the small one).
  • After they have cut the large circle, show them how to cut from the out side towards the center of the flower stopping at the small circle. This creates the leaves of the dandelion.
  • After they have cut the dandelion, have them glue it onto a regular paper.
  • Offer them crayons to draw a stem and leaves for their dandelion.

Five-Minute Focus

Let’s Learn Our Numbers

Numbers of the Unit

4 5 6

Number Activity

Let’s Sing

The Farmer Plants A Seed

Let’s Read

Little Acorn

Igloo Books

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

This Is The Day That The Lord Has Made

Let’s Read

BIBLE

Read the next story in the picture Bible you are working your way through. Need recommendations for a good Children’s picture Bible? Click Here

“No, Me!”

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

As he finished helping our nearly 2 year old son get ready for bed, my husband glanced at me. “You can turn the light off now.”

“Okay,” I stepped into the hallway.

“No, me!” A little voice piped up.

I halted, my hand raised to flip the switch.

My son hurried after me, still saying, “No, me! No, me!”

“Okay, you can turn the light off, then go straight back to Daddy.”

Once he’d turned the light off, my son followed my instructions to go back to Daddy.

A couple of minutes later, with both kids in their beds, my husband and I settled down in their dimly lit room for the final steps of our bedtime routine.

I started us off on the hymn we’ve been enjoying recently.

“Jesus loves even me.”

“I am so glad that our Father in heaven
Tells of His love in the Book He has given;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see,
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.”

“I am so glad that Jesus loves me, …” 

My son’s voice piped up, “No, me!”

We continued singing despite his insistent interruption.

“Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me.”

“No, me!”

“I am so glad that Jesus loves me.

Jesus loves even me.”

When we finished the song, I turned to my son. “You’re right that Jesus loves you. He loves Mommy and Daddy and your sister too.”

How much of this explanation he understood was hard to tell, but he calmed and waited for the next part of our bedtime routine.

Why do I bring this up? Because it got me thinking.

As someone who has sung songs about God’s love and care for years, do I still take them to heart?

Do I really believe that Jesus loves me?

When I sing “Jesus loves me,” do I pause to reflect that, yes, Jesus really does love me personally, not just generically?

Do I insert my name in place of “me”? Jesus loves S. J. Little?

Sometimes the words are so familiar that I forget to reflect on their meaning. I forget to marvel at the mystery that Jesus really does love me, right now, today, just as I am.

Now, let’s be clear, my son’s words were not all helpful.

It is not “no, me.” Rather, I ought to say, “and me,” or, as the hymn says, “even me.”

When I truly grasp that Jesus loves even me, my right response is to show someone else that Jesus loves even them.

Indeed, God’s love is for everyone. As John 3:16 puts it:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” NIV

That’s a lot of love!

Today, as I take a moment to reflect on the truth that Jesus loves even me, may I respond by seeking to share that immeasurable love with someone else, because Jesus loves them too.