Prayer: Abba, father; you are patient and kind, loving and forgiving. Thank you for teaching me what I need to be a better child of God. Thank you even more for giving me the time to learn your lessons. Amen.
Reading: Jonah 3:1-5 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The book of Jonah: a lesson in patience, determination, willpower, abounding love, forgiveness. And humor! In short, I see Jonah as a book on parenting. The kids act up, you warn them. They keep acting up, you punish them. You cannot reach them, try another route; enlist of one of them to help. That sibling cannot be bothered, or doesn’t want to help, or worse, wants to see the other kids “get theirs” – give them a little time and perspective to come around and then, on to the rest! Be willing to change your mind. Leave room for the kids to own up to their mistakes, show remorse, and be forgiven. In short, to grow. And, possibly the most important of all advice: keep your sense of humor! I mean really; thinking over your stubborn refusal to do what dad wants while in the belly of a leviathan? Ultimate grounding! So, next time your kids need a time-out, tell them they are not getting out of that smelly belly of a room until they are ready to behave. Then sit down and share the story of Jonah with them. Let its humor and lessons calm you both. Laugh. Listen. Forgive. Love. --Heather LeBlanc
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