I was not raised in a highly observant home. When I began to practice my faith, I soon discovered that I was operating from a deficit.
Most people learn Bible stories during childhood, but I hadn’t had that opportunity. I didn’t know about Hannah or Samuel. I hadn’t heard of Josiah. I did know that Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den, but I wasn’t sure why.
Maybe you find yourself in the same position I was, feeling frustrated because it seems too hard to catch up. If that’s the case, let me tell you what has worked for me. During the time of the Second Temple, Y’shua taught that in order to enter the kingdom of God, we must become like a little child (Luke 18:17).
I took that advice quite literally, and after my son was born, I began reading the Bible stories to him. Together, we had the joy of hearing many of them for the first time.
Reading books intended for children is a great way to get the gist of the story and learn the basic lesson it contains. Look for quality books that tell the Bible stories realistically. You don’t need the Bible turned into a cartoon in order to understand it, and you certainly don’t want your child to confuse Ha Shem’s mighty acts with the imaginary antics of an action hero. For our family, The Bible Story by Arthur S. Maxwell has worked well.
Many nights, after tucking my son in, I would find myself tiptoeing out of his room and over to my easy chair to read the original story in my Bible. With this method, I’ve managed to keep far enough ahead of my son to be the spiritual mentor for him that I never had. It feels good.
