This vacation has been refreshing and surprisingly enlightening. While spending time with family up here in The Lou, we made time to visit mom’s grave. It was the first time that all (7) grandkids were gathered together at the cemetery. They acted as a medicinal ointment, actually bringing great joy to the overall experience.
Calleigh is our 5-year old. This was not her first time to visit mom with us, but she is just now beginning to understand what it means for Grandma Taylor to be in heaven with Jesus.
We gathered around the headstone, pointing out to Calleigh mom’s name and the dates that represent both her birth and the day she went to see Jesus. Calleigh quickly moved on, noticing the grave marker next to mom’s. It displayed a prominent picture of Jesus, which was what captured her attention.
Before I mention Calleigh’s remark, I should tell you that I try to journal all of her soon-to-be-famous “Calleigh-isms.” She has a knack for saying some of the funniest, quirkiest things. I plan to share many of them with friends and family at just the right time, for example at her wedding rehearsal dinner (37 years from now…).
Anyway, back to the original story. Calleigh points to the picture of Jesus on the gravemarker and announces, “God is dead. And this is where they buried Him.”
I’ve never considered myself to be a theologian, but maybe – just maybe – I may need to take more seriously my role as spiritual leader for our family. Perhaps I should rethink our favorite bedtime routine: curling up together with Calleigh to read books by Friedrich Nietzsche.
In all seriousness, Beth and I have been talking about being more intentional regarding the spiritual formation of our kids. Moms and dads, it is an honor and privilege to be called by God to nurture a spiritual thirst in the lives of our children.
We are looking for a Children’s Bible that will be appropriate for a 5- and nearly 8-year old. Let me know if you have any recommendations. My primary criteria at this point is that it clearly depicts God as alive.
At the age of 32 I married my best friend, Beth. Thirteen years later we are blessed with two very energetic kids - Jack (12) and Calleigh (9). My wife is a ridiculously good cook who loves hosting dinners in our home, and then I go to the gym to work off the calories. I am an avid reader who appreciates contemplative, Spiritual conversations shared over a cup of coffee. Hobbies and interests include reading and writing, journaling, working out, and St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball. 
Gary,
Love the honesty. Love your kids! I’m sure visiting your mom’s grave was indeed bittersweet for you both. We love the “Jesus storybook Bible” by Sally Lloyd-Jones. It is not a devotional, but a book full of the stories of the Bible and then how they point back to Jesus. Not kidsy or overly-cutesy, but meets them where they are at. Anyhow, thanks for making a point to all of us with Calliegh’s GOD IS DEAD!!! WHat a hoot! Love ya’ll!!! Hope you get lots of posts & help with this. Laurie
Funny, i just saw this book recommended by the folks over at Crossway books:
Mighty Acts of God: A family Bible Story book, we activities after each chapters
http://www.crossway.org/product/9781433506048
and Here is the blog post i read about the book
http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/New-Story-Bible-for-Families-Highlights-God-s-Mighty-Acts?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+genderblog+(Gender+Blog)
Looking forward to seeing you all back home safe.
Eric
Oh Yeah, this one is great, i have this one too, and frankly it even helps me out to understand some theological concepts. I have a copy if you would like to check it out, but this one i know is great.
Its called Big Truths for young hearts, but Bruce Ware,
http://www.crossway.org/product/9781433506017
Gary,
Great post. Kids say some funny stuff!!! I don’t know much about 5-8 year old age appropriate bibles, but for anyone out there with toddler/pre-school age kids, we recently found the “Read with Me Bible for Toddlers” by Doris Rikkers and it is great. For our 2 and 3 year old, it’s the best kids bible that I’ve found. You can find it on Amazon.
Tom
Gary, Check out http://www.orangeparents.com There is a church finder there to help you find churches intentional about partnering w/ parents in raising kids to know and grow in the Lord. Also, a great read is Parenting Beyond Your Capacity by Reggie Joiner and Cary Niewhof.
Love the NIRV kids bible. Makes for fun discussion w/ our grandkids (i.e. Adam and Eve were in time out big time) Blessings. Your writing is, as always, incredible!
Look on the bright side… she knows that Jesus is God!
Gary and Beth,
One of my very favorite books in all the world is “Leading Little Ones to God: A Child’s Book of Bible Teachings” by Marian Schoolland. It was originally written in 1962 – sound doctrine, wonderful dialogue, great illustrations – God is definitely alive in this one. Greer and I devoured it when she was about 5 or 6 but an older child wouldn’t be bored with it. Becky