“We won! We won!”
The people of Pisa, Italy had just finished winning a huge battle and came away with lots of treasure.
“Let’s show everybody how important we are,” they said.
What better way to show off than to build a bell tower–not just any tower but a BIG white marble tower. So they started to build…and build…and build. After three hundred years–imagine that!–they finally finished.
But their bell tower wasn’t perfect. After they’d built just a few stories, the soft ground underneath started to sink. The Tower of Pisa started to lean over. Even after all that work, the Tower of Pisa is still leaning today. Some day it will collapse.
We all have times when we work really hard…to understand a homework problem, to finish an assignment, to fix a friendship, to be patient and kind (even when we don’t feel like it). Sometimes we try and try and feel discouraged or feel stressed out. Then even after all our trying, it doesn’t turn out as good as we wanted. Frustrating!
So what do you do?
God shares the secret in Psalm 127. Use the steps below to hide Psalm 127 in your heart this week. (Check out Psalm 23 for Kids and Psalm 46 for Kids too.)
Psalm 127:1-3
1 Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
2 It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.
3 Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
Read or listen
King Solomon was King David’s son and the wisest person who ever lived. Rulers from around the world sent their representatives to listen to his wisdom, which “was as measureless as the sand on the seashore.” (1 Kings 4:29-34). King Solomon wrote 3,000 wise sayings, over 1,000 songs, and 18 psalms. Psalm 127 was one of them.
Explore
-
What kind of things are people DOING in verses 1-2?*
- Psalm 127 says work is “wasted,” and “no good”—unless who does it too?
-
What is God GIVING to the ones he loves? v. 2
-
What are some words he uses to describe children? v. 3-5“
Some people get so busy working and trying hard, like it’s all up to them. But the best things in life are the gifts God gives. Kids, like you, are the best example of that. God takes care of those he loves. So do your best, but then don’t stress out! Leave the rest up to him.
*building, working, guarding, getting up early, staying up late
Ponder
Fill your mind with God’s truth. Say it slowly and think it over.
“God gives rest to the ones he loves. I am a gift from the Lord.”
Journal with pictures or words
Draw a picture, or describe, one of the best gifts you’ve ever gotten.
If someone handed you a special gift, how would you treat it?
If God created you as a gift, how do you think he’ll treat you?
Draw a picture, or describe, something you could do to show someone else that they are a gift from the Lord?
Pray
Dear God, when I feel frustrated because something isn’t working out, remind me not to get stressed out. You see me as a gift. You’ll take care of me. Amen.
The best things in life are gifts God just gives!
Don’t stress out!
So many of us work hard. Always thinking, planning, strategizing, doing our best to make things succeed. Hard work is great, but God doesn’t need you to do things that’ll amaze youblow your mind. So, don’t carry the weight of your work on your shoulders. It’s his work you’re doing, not yours. Trust him. He’ll take care of things.
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