Every single night (let me rephrase that: EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT.) Asa wants to read “the Bible that doesn’t have any words” before bed. He usually picks out “Goli-lith”, Daniel and the Lions Den or “When Jesus died on da’ cross”. But the past few nights he’s picked The Good Samaritan.

I like this story. It’s a classic, often-used story to help people understand that we should love and help others. We should emulate the Good Samaritan and be nice to everyone we see.

But really, have you ever tried to explain this one to a kid? Because after my conversation with the kids the other night, I think there is more to this story than “be kind” or “love your neighbor”.

Lydia and Asa asked why the priest and Levite wouldn’t stop. They said, “I thought they loved God and obeyed the rules.” I told them, “Well, yeah. But these were the same guys who crucified Jesus. They loved being in charge and following rules more than they loved God.”

In fact, I just read a fictional book with this account (Stones of Jerusalem by Bodie Thoene: SO GOOD!) and they suggested one reason the priest didn’t stop was because he assumed the man was nearly dead and didn’t want to defile himself. He chose to honor the command to be ceremonially clean over HELPING someone!

I try to get my kids to follow God’s RULES every day. How does it look when you are ignoring rules for love?!  I try to keep my kids so protected from sin, how do I tell them to love people in the midst of sin?!

How do you bring this to a child’s level? It’s ok if your friend is disobedient to his mom, cusses and watches bad things on TV. You still need to love him and be kind and helpful toward him?!

How do I bring this to my level? It’s ok if one of my friends is sleeping with his girlfriend–I can still have them over for dinner and let them hang out with and influence my kids. YIKES.

It gets worse. Then we started talking about the Samaritan. The real sucker-punch of this story is not that someone stopped and helped the man. It’s that the man who stopped was a Samaritan! “Good” Jews would spit at the mere thought of a Samaritan! They’d take a longer route to avoid Samaria. To a Jew, a Samaritan was the same as…uhm…I don’t know, a militant jihad-ist or a white supremacist would be to us.

And this is the guy that helped out!

So, I should be that same way? Giving money, food, time and LOVE to a Muslim jihad-ist? a white supremacist? a friend that is immoral and proud of it? a peer that speaks crudely in front of my kids?

This is a hard one for me. I grew up in church. I equate many “rules” in my life to Biblical rules. I’m on the conservative side so I think “God said to treat our bodies as His temple. Therefore, smoking is a sin.” So, when I look at someone who smokes I assume they are sinning and not loving God. I am looking for rules, lines in the sand and black-and-white truth.

(You know I’m using hyperbole, right?)

On the other hand, a liberal person might say, “The Bible doesn’t say anything about smoking! It doesn’t say anything about our lungs! God made tobacco. It doesn’t control me. I serve God with my whole life, this has nothing to do with my spiritual walk.” They accept freedom in Christ’s grace.

How do I show my children to live in grace AND truth? How do I show that I live in grace and truth? Not the balance–but the full measure of grace and truth that God has?

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

My pastor has been speaking on grace-and-truth and loving your neighbor and being a disciple of Jesus for the past 7 weeks. Coupled with explaining the Good Samaritan to my kids, it’s made me evaluate how I live.

Do I show love to people? Or do I show love to rules?

Do I show love to everyone? Or just the people who are like me (in beliefs, walk of life, interests)?

Do I follow Jesus? Or do I follow what-I-think-Jesus-followers-should-do?

So, now that I’m getting to the end of this post and my thoughts, I’m left with exactly what I said at the beginning. I think this story is more than “love your neighbor” and “be kind”. But it’s not. When Jesus finished telling the story he simply told his listeners, “Go and do likewise.” Go and do likewise. Go and love everyone. Go and be kind and helpful to everyone.

Do the hard thing. Love the hard person. Give to the hard place.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 13:8–9

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34–35

Who knew bedtime stories could be so taxing?! So, what do you think? I’d love to hear your insight!

ps–Are you following the Yancy Blog Tour? Super fun!

bench photo by heart and soul reflections. text by me.

Have You Ever Tried To Explain The Good Samaritan To Your Kids? is a post from: ImpressYourKids
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Impress your kids with these fabulous Scripture place mats from Tabletop Truths! These are a favorite in our house!
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The week before Lydia turned 1 year old,  I went to one of those paint-your-own-pottery places to make a plate for her. I wanted her to have a special plate that she could eat her birthday cake on every year. I got this idea from one of my favorite authors, Robin Jones Gunn and her book, Mrs. Rosey Posey and the Fine China Plate which is based on 2 Timothy 2:20-21,

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. (NLT)

The story is of Natalie, a little girl who visits Mrs. Rosey Posey because she is mad at her parents when they won’t let her go to the movies. Mrs. Rosey Posey tries to serve Natalie some chocolate covered cherries on a dirty paper plate but Natalie is disgusted! Then she gives her a fine china plate for the cherries. Mrs. Rosey Posey explains that her parents are protecting her and setting her apart to do good things for Jesus. They are helping to keep her pure. Just like she sets her fine china plate apart for special use.

Then she grabs a marker and writes 2 Timothy 2:20-21 on the back of the plate as a gift for Natalie!

I’ve read the true story of Natalie in Robin’s book, Gentle Passages. She says that many women have heard this story and given their daughters fine china plates–that were used on birthdays, important days and even on wedding days. What a GORGEOUS reminder of keeping yourself pure!

Every year, even at her birthday parties while friends are eating cupcakes off a napkin, we put Lydia cake on her “fine china plate”. Lydia’s plate has 3 flowers with character qualities written on them–traits we want to see growing in her life.

Asa has his own plate. {And I’m not as happy with how his turned out (don’t tell him!) because of the intricate side-detail I did…it dried in the middle and I had to go back and do it again! Ack!} Anywhoo. I just ordered a new ceramic paint pen to add a scripture to the front of his. Probably from 2 Chronicles 14 and his namesake.

I think the “fine china plate” idea is one of the most brilliant pictures (straight from God’s Word!) about how and why to keep ourselves pure and set apart for God. I’ve posted about this book (and this series) a few times because it’s an easy step to introduce young children to the importance of all kinds of purity–in mind, media, sexually, health, etc.

To begin our lessons on MAGNIFICENT PURITY, I encourage you to read Mrs. Rosey Posey and the Fine China Plate (it’s only $3.99 but the kindle versionis only $2.99 and you could read it right this second with the free kindle app!) and maybe head out to one of those paint-your-own-pottery places (without your kids) or even to Macy’s and pick out a special, set-apart plate for your children. Let purity be a standard in your home and these plates an awesome and constant reminder.

{I know it’s Friday and we’re just starting this week of our last (!) Super Hero quality. It’s just been one of those weeks! Stay tuned for more MAGNIFICENT PURITY and a really fun water experiment!}

Magnificent Purity: The Fine China Plate is a post from: ImpressYourKids
:: :: ::
Impress your kids with these fabulous Scripture place mats from Tabletop Truths! These are a favorite in our house!
Need help with dinner? I love emeals' new menu planning for Clean Eating! 10% off with code: CLEAN {ends May 17}
Thinking about camping with the kids this summer? Kitchen Stewardship's Family Camping Handbook will help your family in the big woods--real food recipes, camping tips and more!

*sigh*

But even if he matches the words, they won’t be in order! Ack! You can see I did not think this through very well!

Well, it’s the thought that counts, right? At least we’ll get to talk about the verse, even if he can’t do the game, right? If you’ve got readers, this will be a better activity for them–let me know how they like it!

OK, I’m off to iron on our FAITH badge today! Get your free super hero badges here and have a happy weekend!

1 Corinthians 5:7 Memorization is a post from: ImpressYourKids
:: :: ::
Impress your kids with these fabulous Scripture place mats from Tabletop Truths! These are a favorite in our house!
Need help with dinner? I love emeals' new menu planning for Clean Eating! 10% off with code: CLEAN {ends May 17}
Thinking about camping with the kids this summer? Kitchen Stewardship's Family Camping Handbook will help your family in the big woods--real food recipes, camping tips and more!