For all those who have purchased the Bible Character Supplement in the past I thought I’d share my heart with you…something I thought of as I wrote it…something I had hoped for, just so you’d know.
First of all, how many of you have enjoyed the art lessons or the writing lessons not just for your children but for yourselves? I’ve had so many mothers send me pictures that they have created while teaching art lessons to their children. They will say things like, “I haven’t drawn anything since 4th grade or since junior high school, but I did the lessons with my children and an entire new world of art is opening up to me. Here is a picture that I did. ”
Others will write and say that the creative writing lessons have spurred them into new vistas in creative journaling or writing. And countless hundreds of moms have written to say that they personally are learning so much from the lessons in science, history, etc., that entire new worlds of ideas are opening up to them.
Well, in a way this was my heart when I wrote out the plans for the Bible Character Supplement. I was hoping that you, as teaching moms, would use the supplement first of all for yourselves! I was imagining you setting aside five, ten, fifteen minutes each day to read through the Bible lessons, and to look up each of Bible verses as a sort of personal study time. I thought that the Lord would bless such time spent, excite you with a few new ideas and concepts, and touch the your heart as you drew near to Him. I hoped that you would find much help for yourselves-that the Lord would show you answers for your daily lives, and your own needs. Then I thought that from the blessing and filling up you personally received from the studies you would be able to choose a small part of your own blessing to hand off to your students. Sort of like a baton in a relay race-the baton of faith!
It seems so important to help our children learn to draw the Bible into whatever they are doing. Thoughtfully tying the Bible lessons to their reading books is such an important factor in helping the children process Biblical truths and put them quickly into use right in their present day lives. Just as it is good for our children, it is good for us as well.
So, I submit these ideas for your consideration and perhaps a new approach to using the Bible Study Supplement. A new approach, like using it for your own Bible study time-a time of personal refreshing, growing, and uplifting. If you decide to try using the Bible Supplement this way, be sure to let me know (like the art and creative writing lessons) how your personal study time is coming along!
I love this idea, Jane! It is so much more than just writing curriculum to get facts into children’s heads. Over the years I have learned just as much as my children and so much about the goodness of the Lord! Thank you!