January 20-January 26, 2008

LEARNING FROM STORIES
Jennifer James Green
North Richland Hills, Texas


I love stories. I’m a mom and I love to tell and read stories to my children. Matthew 13-16 is full of great stories and parables for us to read and tell to our children. Why did Jesus use so many parables to talk to the people? He was speaking to farmers, fisherman, the illiterate and the ones who had just heard of this man and his wonderful miracles. He was speaking with words that would hold their interests. He told the stories on their level so they might understand where He was coming from and how they could learn from Him.

Reading though the parables with a 6 year old will open your eyes. Our daughter, Grace, sometimes has ideas that are so simple but yet are so eye opening. She thinks it is crazy that Jesus fed the five thousand, walked on water and performed other wonderful miracles and still was not respected in his hometown. Are Jesus’ parables still relevant today to tell to our children? You bet. Do I have to explain the story a few times over to answer all of the questions? Of course, my kids are little. I think Jesus had the same experiences with his disciples. They were present for the miracles, they walked and talked with Jesus, yet they still didn’t fully understand his presence and power from God.

Of course, many did not understand Jesus and his parables. Jesus says to his disciples in Matthew 13: 16-17:

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

I’m going to take some more time this week to read these chapters in Matthew again with my children. I didn’t feel too bad when my children didn’t understand these stories when I read them after the first time. I will keep on reading them and answering questions, just as Jesus kept explaining himself to his followers. I just pray my children learn from our time together in God’s word and understand His love and grace that He has given for us to receive.

[Jennifer James Green is the wife of Aaron Green and the mother to Grace, Susannah and Parker. They live in North Richland Hills, Texas where they are active members of the Legacy church of Christ. She and Aaron are the teachers of the fifth and sixth grade bible class at their congregation. Jennifer is a 1997 graduate of Harding University with a degree in Elementary Education, but has been very busy being a stay at home mom for the past 6 years.]