When I got a hold of the book, I realized that the content was for kids in higher primary. It was definitely not for preschoolers. But then I thought, I could work it out. I am a teacher after all. I assured myself that I could actually make it simpler for Mikel. The book had so many great teachings that I didn't want Mikel to miss out on. So there goes our journey...
Day 1 : Mikel was wondering why we were reading this book. He asked me what it was about and why it had so many words in it. He had the bored look on his face as we were going through the first paragraphs. He just could not focus. We were both crawling through the passage (question 1). Answering the questions was out of the question. I thought, we could just try again tomorrow.
I prayed for patience and wisdom for both of us. I prayed that Mikel will have an open mind and he will start to want to get to know Jesus.
Day 2: We read Question 1 of Chapter 1 again. What does the name Jesus mean? By God's grace, Mikel was more attentive this time. We were successful at answering the questions together. But most of the responses were initiated by me. Mikel still had the puzzled look on his face. He seem to have no clue of why how to answer the questions. He made the drawing that was an activity in the chapter.
Day 3: Mikel asked me about the book. I praised the Lord. We started Chapter 2 and he started reading the questions aloud. I didn't even have to ask him to help me read them like I would when I wanted some participation from him.
Day 4: Mikel did not want to read. He complained about how long it was going to take. I tried to explain that this was something I would like to share with him because I want him to be happy. Of course, it took a lot of talking. He said he wanted to do something else that day and asked if we could do it another time.
I prayed for him. I prayed that he would have the desire to read the book again and find the value. I really hoped it would be soon.
Day 5: A few days after Day 4, I showed Mikel the book and he agreed to read it. I thanked God for that. Mikel and I alternately read the paragraphs. And when there was a dialogue, we would act it out. That was really amazing! We started reading the book as if it was another one of his favorite line of storybooks. He loves books by Mo Willems and he adores Piggy and Gerald.
Day 6: We started reading the passage from the bible that were suggested in the book. It was quite long and I had to summarize afterwards. He started to pray the prayer at the end, all on his own. I felt so glad. I praised the Lord.
Day 7, 8, 9: Mikel has grown to love the book and considers it part of our everyday schedule. He likes to read it at night before he sleeps. He loves doing the activities prescribed in the book. Sometimes he would ask to read it in the mornings too.
Day 10, 11: He has started to read the bible passages with me. We actually referred to a bible. We took turns as they were usually long. He said the prayer at the end of the chapter and we would both add to it.
Day 12: I'm just amazed at how he answered the questions and that he would also ask me what my answer was. What a leap for him! He of course owned the book now.
Day 12: I'm just amazed at how he answered the questions and that he would also ask me what my answer was. What a leap for him! He of course owned the book now.
Mikel and I still have a long way to go in reading this book. And he has an even longer way to go reading the word through the bible. But I am one happy mommy that he has started doing so. Just the other day, he asked me what book I was reading in the bible. I said it was Isaiah. Then he replied, "I like Isaiah". I know he just knows the name of the books now and not really what's written. It is my hope that one day, on his own, he would actually read and understand the bible. My prayer is that he would take the word as food that he needs everyday. I trust that God would just continue to pursue Him the way he pursued me. I thank Him for that blessing.
1 Peter 2-3
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you
may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord
is good.
