Dads and moms are always doing what we can to make sure our little ones are safe and taken care of. It’s not always an easy job. It’s important to teach them things along the way so they are able to look after themselves when we can’t be with them.
My youngest is in middle school now. The Boy and The Oppressed take the bus to school. It’s not like it was when I drove them to school in the morning. Now they leave me a little earlier in the day and I will see them later in the afternoon.
Both children know the route to their bus stop. They’ve been walking it for a while. Instead of asking of they have everything while I drive them to school, I ask when they are leaving the house. The morning routine was pushed up earlier in the day. Sometimes they have to turn around and go back upstairs to get something. When this happens, there is a chance they could miss the bus, but they can still make it to school. I can drive them, and they have everything they need for the day. It’s a small price to pay to make sure everything is accounted for.
We all know there are plenty of things we need to protect our children from. There are illnesses, injuries, and bad influences that lurk and lie in wait for our children. Bullies will want to take something from them, or we will get a call about our children trying to bully another child at school.
Life is tough for our kids and for us parents. It’s not always easy to be brave when there is trouble or danger ahead of us. again, we try to work with our children and teach them what to do when something comes up. In the end, one of the best things we can do is to teach our children to be brave.
Anthony Luke Hyslop wrote a book about being brave when you are lost and afraid. His book, “Here at the Castle”, illustrates a path Christians take in their lives. Using symbolism, Anthony talks about lost souls and what happens if they turn away from God.
A Scared Lamb in a Dreary Castle
“Abide with Me” begins with a scared lamb alone in a cold and dreary castle. The lamb is spotted by a fire-breathing dragon who is prepared to claim the lamb for his own. The lamb is about to lose hope when a lion appears to protect the lamb and tells the dragon his powers are useless and he will never be able to capture the lamb.
Anthony’s book is squarely entrenched in religion, specifically Christianity. However, there are plenty of lessons everyone, not just Christians can learn from this book. Parents of small children have their days and hands full taking care of their little ones. There are meals to prepare and errands to be run. You can’t turn your back to the little ones. Who knows what they’ll get into. This is why you make sure they are holding your hand when you’re walking together, look both ways when crossing the street. When you are with your children, you do whatever you can to make sure they are safe and secure. When it’s time for them to leave you for the day or even longer, that’s when the lessons you instilled within them will take hold.
I know some families who like to mix bible stories with Story Time. While there aren’t any specific tales from the bible in “Here at the Castle”, there is still a great Bible-themed story you can read with your child. If you child is having a hard day or they are finding something difficult, they can read the story of the lion and learn how they can find courage and strength within themselves.
Lessons in Life
What are some examples of a hard time you had with your child? Did it lead to a lesson or a story you were able to use down the road when the same problem came up? Was it the same problem with s different child? Life is full of difficult situations. Sometimes the solution is easy to spot, and sometimes it takes a little work to get to. Even if you haven’t come across something so big it required you and your child to step back and assess things, “Here at the Castle” is a great story to read with your child. You can celebrate your faith together with a story that doesn’t blatantly address Christianity. Your child will learn courage in the face of adversity while spending some time reading with you.
“Here at the Castle” is written for children ages 4-10. It can be a great gift for Easter, Christmas, baptism, or First Communion.
