Every evening I read a chapter out of the Bible to the kiddos before we go to bed. I’ve done this off and on for quite some time but lately I’ve actually stuck with it. If I forget or…cough, cough, don’t feel like it, one of the kiddos will remind me that we didn’t read the Bible. So reluctantly (yes, I said reluctantly) I will get the Bible and start reading.
When I first started the read a chapter a night thing I made the mistake of starting in Genesis. My kiddos could care less and after awhile it was quite boring for them. Then I started reading a Proverbs a night and I got bored with it. So after quite some time (this was before the kiddos would remind me) I decided that I needed to start reading to them again. This time I read out of The Message (I had been reading out of the New Living Translation) and I started in Matthew.
My theory was that I like the New Testament and what better way than to start there with Matthew and work our way through the New Testament and eventually the Old Testament. By the time we got to the Old Testament hopefully the nightly Bible reading would be a habit and it wouldn’t be so bad. I mean the Old Testament can get boring but at least it wouldn’t be boring and something we just started.
But all of this nightly bible reading has me asking questions. Why do I read the Bible to the kiddos? Why is it a nightly thing? Is it even effective? Are they listening and paying attention? Are they absorbing anything I am reading to them?
I don’t have the answers to all the questions. My prayer is that some of what I am reading to them will reach it’s way to their hearts and minds. I believe it’s important for them to know what Jesus has to say about how to live life and treat others. There is so much more in the Bible besides the Noah’s Ark and David/Goliath stories. There is so much more to it than fire and brimstone. There is so much more than Jesus’ crucifixion (although that is a very important part).
All of that is important but I don’t want to focus on one thing, I want to focus on all of it and how all of the Bible works together. Too many times as Christians we focus on certain parts of the Bible and leave out the parts we don’t agree with (or conveniently forget about). I believe everything is in the Bible for a reason and it’s my desire that my kiddos will eventually start reading the Bible for themselves so that the can start learning on their own.
Photo Credit: DrGBB
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If nothing else, your last line says it all. You are creating a habit to focus on God’s Word every night. Not all of those words will matter to THEM immediately, but eventually there will be heart-piercing Words that have a lasting effect.
I wish more parent would just give It a shot!!
Paul writes in Romans, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Keep up the good work, you are helping grow your children’s faith.
If you are looking for an alternative, download a free Audio Bible and play a chapter a day at http://www.FaithComesByHearing.com. There, you can find a KidzBible with both Old and New Testament stories, along with 60+ child-friendly, faith-building songs.