Author: S. J. Little

Brown Sugar Keeper

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

“It’s your turn to open presents.” My sister-in-law’s words drew my attention back from helping my kids explore the gift they’d just unwrapped.

“Okay,” I picked up a medium-sized box wrapped in festive paper.

I checked the label. It was from my in-laws. I glanced up to double-check they knew I was opening it.

I ripped off the paper to reveal a brown shipping box.

I opened the box.

Inside, I found a wide glass jar with a flip lid, a fresh bag of brown sugar, and a set of sugar keepers or brown sugar savers.

I smiled. These would be useful.

At one point, I had kept my brown sugar in a tall plastic container, but the container was now scratched and cracked. Recently, my brown sugar lived in the original bag with a twist tie or clip to seal it shut. This meant I was often battling hard, dry brown sugar.

A few days later, after the hubbub of Christmas had calmed, I prepared to put my new gift to use. With the jar freshly washed, I looked at the sugar keepers.

They were simple terracotta discs with the imprint of a maple leaf.

The instructions were straightforward. Soak in water for 20 minutes. Dry off the outside and place in sugar.

I filled a measuring cup with water and put the sugar keepers in.

My kids glanced up from their playdough at the sound of the sizzle and whistle of the keepers soaking up the water.

Once the kids returned to their playdough, I had a moment to read the back of the sugar keepers’ package.

The package listed several other things the sugar keeper could do:

  • Keep cakes and cookies moist
  • Keep raisins, coconut, and other dried fruits fresh

I glanced at my kids. Could it keep playdough soft? I might have to try.

I looked back at the package. It had a second side to the wording.

Apparently, the sugar keeper could be dried in the oven and would then be useful for keeping things dry. It could:

  • Keep spices and salt dry
  • Keep chips crispy
  • Keep electronic equipment dry

These uses surprised me. I had no idea how many things a little terracotta disc could be useful for.

It was then that an allegory took shape in my mind.

I, as a Christian, am meant to bring life to those around me, just as the sugar keeper is to bring moisture (and thus give life to) brown sugar.

Is it my own life that I bring to those around me? No, it is the life Jesus gives. The life which, by the Holy Spirit, lives in me.

Similarly, the sugar keeper does not give its own moisture to the sugar. The keeper must first be soaked, thus being filled up with water so it has something to give.

Giving moisture is not the only thing a sugar keeper can do. It can also suck moisture out of everything around it.

Likewise, giving life is not the only thing I can do. I can also drain the joy and hope out of everyone I cross paths with.

This happens when I am living in the flesh, not walking in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-26 clarifies the difference. (For sake of time I will abbreviate the passage, but the full section is worth reading.)

The works of the flesh include: Jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, and envy. (Gal. 5:19-21)

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23a CSB)

I don’t want to be a life drainer. I want to be life giving to those around me.

I want to share a taste of the life Jesus gives with those I cross paths with. I want to give joy, hope, encouragement, and love to them.

I want them to see Jesus in me.

How can I do this?

The more I draw near to Jesus – seeking Him through the Bible, prayer, worship, and Christian fellowship – the more I will be filled with His life.

The more I am filled with Jesus’ life, the more it will seep out of me to bring life to those around me.

God will be at work through me.

Today, may I seek Jesus more so that I may be a life giver, not a life drainer.

Outer Space – 3.5 – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 3 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 5

Outer Space

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

Fly to the Moon

Supplies:

  • Optional: Hula hoops (1 per person)
  • Optional: Space helmets (1 per person)

Prep:

  • Clear a large area for active play.

Time to Play:

  • Gather your children and explain that you are going to play a pretend game. You are going to fly to the moon! (Be excited.)
  • If using hula hoops, explain that the hula hoops are your spaceships. Place one hula hoop per person on the ground with room around them. As you do so, assign each child to stand beside a hoop.
  • Say, “We’re going to fly to the moon, but first, we need to get ready.”
  • “Put your space suit on.” Pretend to step into a full-body suit and do up the zipper.
  • “Put your space boots on.” Pretend to put on heavy boots.
  • “Put your space helmet on.”
  • “Put your space gloves on.”
  • “Open the door to your spaceship and climb in.” If using hula hoops, step into the centre of the hoop.
  • “Buckle up your seat belt.”
  • “Now get ready to blast off.” Crouch low.
  • “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 … Blast off!”
  • Jump up and run around the room several times.
  • Point to a far corner of the room. “There’s the moon! Let’s go land on it.”
  • Run together to that corner and “land” your spaceships.
  • Unbuckle your seat belt, open the door, and climb out of your spaceship. Pretend to moon walk with slow-motion movements and exaggerated jumps.
  • Climb back into your spaceships, close the door, and buckle up. Blast off to fly back to Earth. Run around the room several times before landing on Earth.

Art Activity

Cardboard Tube Rockets

Supplies:

  • 1 cardboard tube per child (use an empty toilet paper roll or cut a paper towel roll shorter)
  • Coloured construction paper
  • 1 paper cone per child (either use a cone-shaped paper cup or roll one using coloured paper)
  • Markers (or crayons)
  • Glue stick (or tape)
  • Hot glue gun and glue (alternatively use tape, but this is more difficult)
  • Scissors
  • Optional: red, orange, and/or yellow tissue paper or streamers

Prep:

  • Ahead of time, use the hot glue gun to secure the cone on top of the cardboard tube. This forms the body of the rocket.
  • Cut out 2-4 triangle fins (per child) from the coloured paper.
  • Optional: Cut 1-inch wide strips of tissue paper that are about 6 inches long. Prepare around 3 strips per child.

Time to Create:

  • Invite your child to the table. Encourage them to take a moment to colour the tube and cone with markers. (Drawing gently on a curved surface is great fine motor practice.)
  • Allow your child to choose which colours of triangle fins to add to their rocket.
  • Fold the edge of each fin, then, using a glue stick, attach each fin around the base of the rocket.
  • Optional: If you have tissue paper, allow your child to choose 3 strips. Attach these strips inside the bottom of the rocket leaving them trailing out behind like fire.

Five-Minute Focus

Let’s Learn the ABCs

Letters of the Unit

  • QRS

Letter Activity:

  • Supplies: 1-2 strings per child

Time to Learn:

Let’s Sing

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Let’s Read

I Want to Go to the Moon
(Book + CD)

 

Author: Tom Saunders
Illustrator: Cynthia Nugent

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

For actions and additional verses, click here.

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

Wrong Thinking

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

“Parmesan cheese, please.” My 3 year old daughter pointed across the table.

I sprinkled some of the cheese on her pasta. “There you go.”

She took a bite, then picked up her water to take a drink.

As she tilted the cup to take a drink, she tipped it too far, pouring cold water onto her pant leg.

“Oh…” She put the cup back down. “Now I’m wet. I can’t be wet.”

She proceeded to roll her affected pant leg up past the wet spot.

“There,” she declared, “now it will dry faster.”

I frowned. “It will dry slower, not faster, when it is rolled up. Your pants need to be spread out to dry faster.”

“No. It will dry faster.”

I sighed. I knew pressing the point would get me nowhere. I had tried before, several times…

“Well, you get to choose if you want your pant leg rolled up or not.”

It was time to change the topic.

“Look. I see a squirrel in the tree outside. I wonder what he’s trying to do.”

It wasn’t until I had a few minutes to slow down several days later that it occurred to me that there is an allegory here for me to learn from.

As I was reflecting on my daughter’s attitude of not wanting to listen to me in this manner, the thought crossed my mind: “Is there any area of my thinking where I have been refusing to listen to God?”

With my daughter, sometimes this same attitude has shown up in statements such as, “if I don’t get a turn now, then I never will get a turn.”

My reply has been, “That’s not true. You need to wait for one more minute and then it will be your turn. You need to tell yourself the truth.”

To her reply of “Why?”

I say, “Because it hurts you when you don’t tell yourself the truth. It makes you feel grumpy.”

The question begs to be asked: Is there any area of my life that I am not telling myself the truth?

Probably.

My wrong thinking may be fueled by pride, ignorance, fear, or nearly anything else. It may seem harmless right now, but when I continue to think that way, eventually it will hurt me and likely cause harm to those around me.

Is God trying to explain to me the truth so that I don’t cause myself all sorts of trouble by believing the lie I am telling myself?

Yes.

Much of the transforming work God does in my life takes place in the mind.

As Romans 12:2 tells us: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (CSB)

How does God transform my thinking?

There are many ways. Time spent reading the Bible is hugely significant. Spending time in prayer, listening to sound Bible teaching, and fellowshipping with other Christians all play large roles as well.

God wants to help me know the truth. As I seek Him, He will transform my thinking (though I may not clearly see it myself).

Today, may I have the courage to honestly ask God to show me where I have been thinking wrong, and then to help me change it.

Looking for a Bible-based devotional? Check out my post:

Grow Your Faith: 5 Inspiring and Free Christian Devotionals

Christmas Stars – 3.C – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 3 Year Old Curriculum – Unit C

Christmas Stars

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

Hide and Seek Stars

Supplies:

  • Two copies of the free printable colouring sheet (or the full-colour version available on TPT). If you have more than 10 children, print a third copy of the colouring sheet to make additional stars.
  • Scissors
  • Crayons, markers, pencil crayons, etc.
  • Optional: Consider using thicker paper and/or laminating your Hide and Seek Stars board and pieces for greater durability.

Click here for your free Star Search Download

Prep:

  • Alternatively, if you prefer to print a full-colour version, check out the 10 Matching Stars on my TPT store.
  • Decorate the stars keeping the matching stars looking like they match (i.e. the star with five dots should be the same colour on both sheets of paper so that they are evidently a pair.)
  • Cut out the stars from one sheet of paper (these are your stars to hide). Do not cut the other sheet of paper (this is your matching board).

Time to Play:

  • “Hide” the stars around the room in obvious places. Consider placing one on a chair, on a windowsill, or even straight on the floor.
  • Place the matching board in the center of the room. Gather your children around and show them the stars. Discuss what colours they are.
  • Explain to your children that you have hidden the stars around the room. Their job is to find the stars and match them to their pair on the matching board.
  • Be excited with the children as they find each star.

Art Activity

Star Shadows

Supplies:

  • Paper
  • Cardboard or thick cardstock
  • Scissors
  • Crayons (Alternatively use paint, or use light coloured oil pastels on black paper.)
  • Tape

Prep:

  • Cut out stars from the cardboard. You need at least one per child who will be doing art at the same time.
  • Optional: Cut out a moon.

Time to Create:

  • Invite your children to the table. Show them the cardboard star.
  • Demonstrate how to make a star shadow picture by doing an example: put a ball of tape on the back of the cardboard star. Secure the star to the middle of your paper.
  • Use a crayon to draw from the cardboard onto the paper all around the cardboard star.
  • Remove the cardboard star and admire the star shadow.
  • Secure a star to your child’s paper and encourage them to try.

Five-Minute Focus

Let’s Learn the ABCs

Letters of the Unit

MNO

Letter Activity

  • Time to Learn:

Now that you’ve made all the Hide and Seek Stars, help your child arrange the stars in the shape of each letter.

Let’s Sing

I’m A Little Christmas Tree

For lyrics and actions, click here.

 

Let’s Read

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas

Author: Alice Schertle
Illustrator: Jill McElmurry

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Baby Jesus, Welcome Lord

For lyrics and actions, click here.

Let’s Read

BIBLE

Read the story about Baby Jesus in your Children’s Bible.

Speaking of Christmas…


.

Assigned Lesser Duties?

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

The following allegory is a break from my normal style of allegories. I wrote it on Remembrance Day (or Veterans Day as it is called in the USA). A day set aside to pause and remember the sacrifice of those who have fought for our freedom.

As we gathered around the breakfast table, my husband turned on a live stream of the Remembrance Day Ceremony happening in Ottawa. (TV at meal time is extremely rare for us, but what do you do when you are in a different time zone and your kids need to eat during a live event?)

This year, we had special interest in watching the preamble of the ceremony in Ottawa.

I glanced at the screen between spreading slices of bread for my kids and eating my own breakfast.

Suddenly, I pointed at a man on the screen chatting with two others, both of whom were smiling. “There he is! It’s Elmer Friesen!”

I grabbed my phone to snap a quick photo.

As the screen shifted to show other people, I turned to my daughter, “Do you remember Mr. Friesen? You know him.”

Elmer Friesen is a war veteran from World War II whom I have had the privilege of knowing since I was young. He is 103 years old now, but still sharp-minded and doing well for his age. He is a godly man and always has a cheery word to share.

As we continued to eat breakfast and watch the preamble, we listened to various veterans being interviewed and watched the soldiers marching to their positions for the ceremony.

Then they did it, they mentioned Elmer by name!

They shared a pre-recorded segment on his story before interviewing him in person.

His story goes something like this:

Elmer Friesen joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in the 1940s eager to serve. He really wanted to go overseas.

However, he was assigned a maintenance role in Canada.

After a year and a half of maintenance duty, his tendency to always be singing was noticed and he was recruited into the Royal Canadian Air Force entertainment group. Their mission? Raise the morale of civilians who were in the midst of wartime tensions.

They traveled around performing variety shows in Atlantic Canada.

Elmer never did get deployed overseas the way he had wanted. He served in the homeland.

When the interview ended, the reporters shared their thoughts regarding how a wide variety of duties are valuable, even the kind Elmer was assigned to.

How would I describe Elmer Friesen today? A man in whom the joy of the Lord is evident.  He seeks to share Jesus with those around him wherever he goes, and enjoys life along the way. One of his favorite hymns is Count Your Blessings.

Why do I share this?

Because I see an allegory here for me.

How many times have I wanted to be someone or do something God hasn’t called me to be or do?

How many times have I read an inspiring missionary or hero of the faith biography and said, “Here, Lord, send me?”

But no call came.

I love this quote from Elmer: “‘I really wanted to go overseas,’ he said. ‘But you go where you’re told, you go where you’re asked to serve.'” (Quote from: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/alberta-veteran-103-recalls-war-service-spent-boosting-morale-at-home/ )

Elmer Friesen was a soldier. When you are a soldier, you do what you are told.

We too, as Christians, are instructed to live as soldiers seeking to please our commanding officer (2 Timothy 2:3-4).

We go where we are sent and stay there serving faithfully until we are called somewhere else.

Our commanding officer (God) has perfect foresight. He knows the big picture and He knows the intimate details of how He has created each of us.

God assigns to each of us a role. Each role is unique based on our talents and the big picture that only God can see.

(1 Corinthians 12 uses the body as an illustration of this. We are not all eyes or feet. The body is a functioning whole because each of us has been given our own role to play.)

Even if I have not been called to be in the “front lines” of Christian service, I can help support those who are. I can offer friendship, financial support, and, most importantly, prayer support.

One way to get in the habit of praying for missionaries and pastors, etc., is to collect a photo or prayer card from each person you want to pray for. Choose a meal that you are typically at home and not in a big rush – for my family this is supper, but for my grandparents, who taught me this habit, it was breakfast. Then everyday when you sit down to say grace for that meal, pull out the top photo and pray for them. Return that photo to the bottom of the stack to be prayed for again in a week or two.

How have you made it a habit to pray for missionaries? Let us know in the comments below.

Today, may I join with Elmer Friesen in willingly submitting to the role God has given me in this season.

As I do so, may my heart remember to count my many blessings (because there are so very many).

 

 

 

 

Here’s the clip related to Elmer Friesen from the CTV News coverage of the Ottawa 2025 Remembrance Day Ceremony. Here’s the link to the full 2 hour recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/L1JFjJGDIUw?si=Qeff4Zu3kv_juS1K

 

Link to a short article referencing Elmer’s story: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/alberta-veteran-103-recalls-war-service-spent-boosting-morale-at-home/

 

 

The hymn: Count Your Blessings