Dear friend,
This week my son approached me with a book he’d borrowed from school and said,
“Mum, I don’t think I should be reading this.”
It isn’t the first time he’s done this, and my heart sank as I wondered what he’d been exposed to this time.
But almost immediately, I was reminded that this moment itself was a gift.
It showed me that he trusts me. That he wants to bring his concerns to me. And, above all, that the Lord has been growing his discernment.
Now, I know you’re probably wondering what was actually in the book. Thankfully, it wasn’t anything especially serious, just a romance between two characters that culminated in a kiss.
Even so, it felt frustratingly out of place for a book aimed at ten year olds, particularly given the actual details but I won’t go into that here.
That’s not really the point.
The point is this: we cannot protect our children from everything they will encounter. What we can do is prepare them to see the world through the lens of Scripture and be the safe place they instinctively come to when they need help processing what they’ve found.
So while I was disappointed by the book, I found myself far more grateful for the discernment God has been cultivating in my son.
That didn’t happen by accident.
Over the years, the Lord has impressed upon us the importance of being intentional in discipling our children. To speak often of His faithfulness. To help them see that every story ultimately finds its place within the Greatest Story.
Many of you have asked what resources we’ve used over the years, so I thought I’d share a few that have been especially helpful for our family.
⭐️ Solid Storybook Bibles from the earliest years, helping our children become familiar with God’s character and His unfolding story. Find our faves here
⭐️ Reading the Bible together. We started reading Scripture with our eldest around age six (although our younger children have, of course, been listening in from much younger).
⭐️ Family Bible reading plans. The above has been possible using these plans as I’m quite a scatterbrain, so having a plan is essential to remain consistent and methodical.
⭐️ Scripture memory through song. We especially love Slugs & Bugs, and this book has worked brilliantly even with our 3 year old!
⭐️ Mama Bear Apologetics. This was a pivotal read for me. It helped me understand the cultural ideas competing for our children’s hearts and how to gently equip them to recognise truth from falsehood.
⭐️ Our faith based book companions. More than simply literature studies, they are a tool to naturally train our children to view what they are reading through the lens of scripture. To see that all things point back to God. Thus creating this muscle that my son is exhibiting (praise God!). Find them here
If you have any questions regarding any of these books or companions, please feel free to respond to this email, or reach out to me on Instagram.
Many blessings,
Jessica
