(Sorry to hijack your blog again Amber.) I have to say I've always looked at blogging, face-tweeting and the likes with cynicism. "Why do people think anyone would care what kind of sandwich they're making at the moment? How ego-centric can you be?!" Now, I still know it all can be a fairly unhealthy, self-centered obsession for some. But this (Amber's blog & many of yours) has taught me to see what one always sees with a closer look, Christ is the Great Redeemer. He can even breath life into online social networking! I have seen great fruit come from this blog & others. Preface A completed, here, quickly is B: I share this not to point to me, or Amber. We're sinful people in need of daily correction,
me especially. I share the story because I am pretty sure someone will benefit from it -this book can be a valuable tool.
For our the-boys-are napping reading time with Emelia today I read, "Aslan's Triumph." It's a nicely summarized version of C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe" from the Narnia series. The illustrations are well made & thoughtfully put together. As we read it I kept telling Emelia that the story was made to tell us about Jesus.
When we got to the end, she still seemed very focused on it so I went back to the 1st page & asked, "What does this picture teach us about Jesus?" Then, we talked about it. This went on all the way through the book! Granted, it's not a huge book. But we had good talks that went on for a while on most of the pages. I asked a few times if she wanted to keep going but she was still interested. Some times she missed the concept entirely but was eager to learn. Other times her understanding of the picture surprised me.
We covered temptation, identity & purpose, sin & its penalty, Satan ("The Accuser"), angels & demons, Christ's intentional & brave sacrifice of Himself, His resurrection, His victory over death, the exhilarating joy of following Him, Christ's victory over the battle, how all of His followers survive in the end, heaven, and becoming the people He made us to be.
...hardly a typical afternoon talk with my 4 year old. (I hope I can say otherwise in the months to come!) I got to sit for half an hour and share the Gospel with my daughter! As my friend Josh would say, it was beautiful. It was.
At the end of the story my little blond girl & I talked about the little blond girl who revives her brother with the gift from Aslan (the gift of healing). "Did you know" I asked Emelia picking her up onto my lap to face me, "that YOU have gifts too? Jesus has given you gifts!" She was so intrigued & locked eyes with me in the way I think every father longs for his beloved children to do. She was mine, eagerly awaiting the good news (the Good News!) I had for her, delighted, trusting & focused. I knew right away that whatever I said next would stick.
So, naturally, I lost it.
I am glad to report that I didn't go snotty-nosed-hyperventilating-high-pitched-voice on her. But cry I did. It seems children's books are what put Amber & me over the edge these days.
I got to tell her about the gifts I see in her. I got to fill her with wonder at the gifts she has -ones that we don't even know about yet. And, I got another opportunity to point my girl to Jesus. I am so filled right now it's silly.
My latest highlight of the year involves crying over a kids book and I'm blogging about it.
