You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
Psalm 139:1
During March I was on an adventure in Asia. We own a tour company and take small groups around the world on vacation. Part of our time in Vietnam included a service day in a village school in the northern part of the country.
We were literally in the clouds, surrounded by stunning majesty on one hand and stark poverty on the other.
The setting was light years from my home in Minnesota, but in so many ways the kids were the same. They want to have fun, they love to laugh, they’re hungry to learn and more than anything they just want to be loved and known.
“My name is Carol,” I said pointing to myself, “What’s your name?”
The little boy across from me knew enough English to answer. “My name is Giang.”
Then I gestured to a slip of yellow paper on the desk in front of us. “Write your name.” And in beautiful cursive he did.
We used that name to create something special (see below). Because of the country we were in, I couldn’t share God’s truth. But I silently prayed that some day this little boy will know the One who knows him.
There is no deeper need than the need to be loved and known.
Everyone wants someone to understand them,
listen to them,
and really truly know them.
The same is true for your child.
Even though I couldn’t tell little Giang about Him, you can tell your kids about the One who knows them best.
So here’s a hands-on devotional complete with a craft to help you get started. I thought you’d like to do what we did in Vietnam. So I’ll let the village kids show you how to make it.
Paperbead necklace Craft – Pair this with the devotional talking points below
Supplies: string, six triangles out of colored cardstock, letter beads , Elmer’s glue, chopstick or small dowel
- Have your child choose letter beads that spell their name.
Make the paper beads
- Draw and cut out six triangles out of the colored cardstock. The wider the base of the triangle, the longer the bead is.
- Starting at the base of the triangle, wrap it around the dowel.
- Place a dot of glue at the top of the triangle.
- Wrap up until you reach the dot of glue, then press and hold for a few seconds.
- Slide the paper bead off the dowel.
- Repeat until you have six colorful paper beads.
String 3 paper beads on each side of the letters and tie off the string.
Devotional talking points
Use these talking points while you make the paper bead necklace.
Say…
Everyone has a special name. Mine is ______________ (say your full name). Your grandma/grandpa’s is ______________ (say their full name).
Your name is special too. What’s your whole name?
What’s special about your name?
(Highlight one of three options below)
- Check out the meaning of your name (behindthename.com).
- Tell a special story about the person for whom they were named. For example, “Your aunt was one of the kindest people I know. You were named for her.”
- Tell them the story of how they were born or how they came into your life and how important that day was to you.
Read Psalm 139:1-6 together. Before you were even born, God saw you. He knows you, really knows you. what your favorite foods are, where you like to spend time and he understands you.
Optional: Watch my three-minute video
Pray – Dear God, thank you for making me me. You know my name. You know about me. You know how I feel and what I think. You know me! I want to know you too. Amen.
Recent Comments