Showing posts with label Explaining Lightening to children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Explaining Lightening to children. Show all posts

10.01.2010

Storms: A perfect time to talk about God’s sovereignty in weather

Rainy days are always fun. They’re different. You may have to stay inside and play-but you get to go to a different room with different things which often means a different schedule. They are especially fun with preschoolers who are (in a lot of cases) just watching thunder and lightening for the first time (at least as far as they can remember). Yesterday was a rainy in San Diego.

Last year when it was stormy I came across a perfect “weather” scripture. I marked it and said “Next year when it’s stormy out, I’m totally reading this to the preschoolers.” Well it’s “next year” and it was “stormy.” So at lunch, I ran through Job 37-which basically talks about God’s sovereignty over weather/creation. Some of the things I quickly defined in preschool terms and in a dramatic way. But for most of it I was just able to read straight from the ESV:

God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, “Fall on the earth,” likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour….By the breath of God ice is given, and broad waters are frozen fast. He loads the thick clouds with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightening. They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them…” (Job 37: 5-12)

After lunch was outside time. Out we went. It wasn’t long before we heard thunder. Though I loved it, I knew it would scare many of them. Sure enough they kind of froze and weren’t quite sure how to feel about it. However, I wanted them to see God’s beauty and power instead of fearing the loudness of thunder and lightening. So I smiled and started clapping saying, “Thank you God for your thunder, you are so strong!” So all the kids clapped along and started smiling and saying “Thank you God!” It was precious. Then we actually saw a huge streak of lightening and we clapped again thanking God. Of course we went inside after that. But we didn’t stop watching. The kids were thrilled and we watched from a window for about 20 minutes clapping and thanking God for His lightning and His thunder.

Rainy days are fun. Seeing lightning and hearing thunder is especially fun. Watching preschoolers thank God for thunder and lightning is the MOST fun.