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about the author |
Principle: Stewardship
(Adults’ definition) God gave us the earth and all life as our gift, and calls upon us to care for them. Because the earth supports us, a troubled environment will lead to issues of injustice.
(Children’s definition) Children’s definition: God made the earth and the sky, as well as all the people, animals, and plants. And God tell us we must take good care of them.
Book recommendation: Someday a Tree by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Ronald Himler
Alice is a little girl blessed with a huge, ancient oak tree in her yard. Frequently she and her mother picnic under it and read stories, or her mother tells her tales of her family: how they acquired the land because of the tree, how Alice was christened under it, etc. Others stop by and enjoy a picnic under the tree and Alice understands the tree is to be shared. But when someone dumps a chemical poison under the tree, the tree begins to die. As Alice and her parents struggle to save the tree, their neighbors and friends arrive to help. Their battle is heroic, but the leaves continue to dry up, and squirrels, birds and deer leave the area. Alice must accept the fact that her tree is dying, and whoever killed it probably did not even intend to do so. Then she finds a bit of hope: her acorn collection. Someday, she hopes, there will be more oak trees. This story shows the longevity and yet the fragility of some aspects of nature. It shows the serious implications of carelessness with God’s creation. It shows the comfort of caring people working together. And it shows that we must keep working together to be good stewards of the earth.
Discussion starters: Talk briefly about the beauty of a tree. If possible, examine some twigs with buds, and consider placing them in water. Talk about a tree being a gift from God, and that God has entrusted it in our care. Do an experiment: plant bean seeds in potting soil in three paper cups and place them into a sunny window. In cup No. 1, water the soil, keeping it evenly moist but not too wet. In cup No. 2, water the soil with lemon juice, explaining to the children that while lemon juice might not hurt people, it might hurt plants, like the tree in the story. In cup No. 3, do not water the soil at all. Watch the cups for growth. Talk about the differences between giving the seeds something they need, giving them something that may be harmful, and not giving them what they need. Pray together that you all learn how best to take care of God’s creation.
Big Book ideas: To a new page in the book, add many pictures of creation: flowers, trees, the sky, animals, water, people, and so on. Children may also want to draw pictures. Add the words, “We take care of God’s creation.”
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