One week our church challenged us to memorize Joshua 1:6-9 as a church. It seemed long, but our family’s word for the year is “Obedience” so we decided to try to memorize it. We decided every meal we would say a different verse together, reading pieces of it out loud until we got it memorized. My husband and I typically use NASB, and since it was longer, we didn't think we'd actively include M. But you know how little ones love to listen to everything (I’m constantly surprised by how well M’s hearing is from across the room….”Mamo, why are you whispering to Daddy?”). M picked up most of the passage fairly quickly, just by listening to us. He’s even continued on with the right words when my husband and I have hesitated! Sometimes we’ll ask him what he doesn’t understand in the passage or we’ll choose one word to explain in words he’d understand more.
“Meditate on it day and night” - We think and talk about what the Bible says all the time.
M learned a simplified version of Joshua 1:9 with motions at church a while ago. It was his first memorized verse, which made it even more special for me.
Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
He was playing one day and he was pretending that a scary lion was in the other room. I told him to go roar at that lion and to not be afraid. He closed the door behind him and I heard him through the wall saying the whole verse! He'll often now want to say the longer version at meals even when we’ve moved on to memorizing a different verse. I’ve also heard him through the monitor saying the verse and he often says to me or his brother, "God is with you". So proud of this kid.
Another week we were memorizing James 1:22 as a family.
James 1:22 NASB But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
That was also the week M learned names of some Thomas the Train characters. I almost spit out my drink when, after we said the verse, I heard from across the table, “James is the red one”. It took my husband a second to get it but he laughed when he got it too. I calmly explained to him that, "Yes, James is the red one, but the James in the Bible was a real person. Not a train!"
M is always listening and learning. Even when we don't actively include him in something, he's always taking something away from it. He's always thinking and pondering at those things, making connections on his own. I can also learn from M, how he can apply those verses so readily to new situations.
Manna:
Memorize verses as a family
Bring the verses up as often as you can
I say all the time that God is with him. I want his mind to be filled with good things so good things come out when he speaks. I'm so thankful that he says that God is with him when he's scared of thunder or when he doesn't want to be alone. Since he is only 3 he has a long way to go before truly understanding and living like God is really with him all the time. Do I even fully understand and live like that is true?
We wanted to memorize James 1:22 because we can talk about loving all day long, but do we actually do it? We’re trying. With failures. With successes. God sees all and never stops loving us. My husband and I recently set up a system to help ensure that we are doing loving acts. We write out simple ways that we plan to love God, our family, our neighbors, and our world better that week. M has started coming up with ideas for him to show love as well. Sometimes we give him guidance if he needs it. When we fail to follow through with what we've planned God uses that as an opportunity to help us grow. More on this topic and idea in a future post.
I have found that M is often more capable than I imagine. I think he loves being able to memorize the same thing Mamo and Daddy are memorizing. And he loves when we cheer him on in his success with the verses.
Lord,
Thank you for giving us Your Word so that we can be filled with good things. Even though it seems impossible to us, You can do all things so I pray that our children only pick up Godly things from what they see and hear. I pray that every day we can get closer and closer to fully understanding and living like the promise of You always being with us is true. Give us guidance on how to truly love like You do.
Amen.