. It is one of the five most important journeys of a child. Yet, in many of our public forums this may feel awkward or possibly even controversial. The word ‘faith’ may not resonate with everyone. Even if it resonates with you, you know it may not for many others. We sit in the paradox of spirituality and post-modernism.
How do we give the children in our life the gift of faith? How did my parents give me the gift?
How could I offer the gift of faith to the children in my care if I don’t believe in a higher power?
Everyone wants to know the answer to these questions. In many ways, I wrote as a way to explore these questions within a broader forum.
Today, I am wrestling with these burning questions about the gift of faith.
In my book, , I offer the following definition of faith as a starting point for discussion:
Comfort.
A wholehearted trust in the restoration of all things.
A whispered invitation of hopefulness.
A beckoning to the dance of life.
In the Starter Kit I ask these questions about your perspectives on faith:
- What beliefs serve you and your family or community?
- What is shaping those beliefs?
- In what ways do you want your child to experience faith?
- How did you practice faith as a child? As an adult?
We all can give our children the gift of faith, regardless of our belief system, upbringing, and/or religion.
Recently I had coffee with an educated mom and entrepreneur, who after reading the book encouraged me to give parents real strategies, mantras, or simple ideas from my own experience as an educator and parent.
Here is a two-step strategy anyone can use to explore the journey of ‘faith’ in your home or classroom.
Give the Gift of ‘Faith’ in Your Classroom or Home
There is a world in words.
Choose some ‘words’ to capture ideas you hold as sacred for your home or classroom. You may need to brainstorm with others or journal a bit. Some examples could include, “Explore the Great Mystery” or “The Beauty of the Earth” or “Our Connected Humanity” or “The Practice of Love” or “Respect for All”)?
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Create rituals.
Create little rituals around those ideas to help you celebrate the children’s growing spirituality, faith in themselves, or delight in life. In our home, we go to church, we participate in Sunday School, we light candles and recite prayers. We say grace and bow our heads before bed. The rituals bring us great comfort and are steadying forces in our lives. In some ways our entire calendar is shaped by our celebrations of life. They help us focus on what matters most. They aren’t empty routines, but rather, they are practices filled with the meaning of the ages.
Your rituals can be based on the same precept. The rituals will be as vast as the people reading this blog. Some coming to mind for me are a consistent gratitude practice, regular inter-generational connections, a repeated hike or park you attend to mindfully notice nature, the way you describe the gift of friendship after playdates, or a silent meditation of five breaths together. Your classroom could have a magic circle or a way to celebrate learning. Rituals help us circle back to our big ideas.
You are the most powerful model. What you model will always speak most powerfully.
The Builder and I are choosing to approach our growth as a family in caring for our earth a similar way. Each month we choose a project to add to our family life. This month it is a new recycling routine, we’re using reusable grocery bags next month, and composting the following month. We also hope to add Meatless Mondays. We really are trying to become more mindful. I’m suggesting a similar approach with the gift of faith.
Journal Questions:
- How does the word ‘faith’ resonate with you? What are the common barriers or misconceptions about that word?
- Which phrase from the Learn Forward definition is most attractive? Why?
- How does the gift of faith manifest in your home or classroom?
Nourishing our sacred work invites us to believe in light for dark places.
For the sake of the children,
Karine