by Lee Ann Setzer
Exodus 12 tells the Israelites how to observe the Passover—how to prepare the meal, what to teach the family, what to serve for dinner, how to eat it. Then come two important verses:
26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses.
Even if you don’t know much about the Passover, you know about bitter herbs, and perfect lambs, and unleavened bread. This incredibly complex ritual, complete with family participation and unusual sights, smells, and tastes, exists, at least partially, to make children ask questions. And the reason for them to ask, is so that their parents can teach them the gospel.
Our leaders frequently advise us not to confuse entertaining with teaching. But, in this case, the opposite of entertain isn’t bore—we have a responsibility to engage our children, our classes, our learners. When they are asking us questions, that’s an excellent place for learning to begin.
The Passover has endured for more than 3000 years. How can we engage our children in ways that will plant the gospel that firmly in their hearts?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
We, too, can come up with unusual analogies that make our children think and question.
We can turn everyday visual aids into mini lessons on looking for (and thinking about) the Savior.
For example, compare window blinds to receiving or shutting out Christ's love. They let in light and warmth when open, and make a room dark when shut.
Creating everyday object lessons can be a great Family Home Evening exercise.
We have done a passover dinner several times with our family. Also, when I was the Enrichment Leader in our ward, we did one, it was very "entertaining" and educational!
Post a Comment