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THE CRADLE – 12-15-2021

By December 15, 2021Daily Devotionals

THE CRADLE
December 15, 2021

Prayer: Lord, show me a way to reveal to my students something of You in their lesson today. May I have something fun to share with my children and families over the wonderful Christmas holiday. Amen

Scripture: Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.
The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Ex. 4:2-3 NIV

I taught a lot of lullabies, especially to kindergartners. They seemed so receptive to learning songs for babies. However, the effect of the music on them was not all that I wished! I often caught them, eyes heavy, sluggish, ready to sleep themselves, as they sat listening to me sing. How could I excite them a little more without changing the spirit of the singing? “If only I had a cradle,” I thought. I could choose children to take turns rocking the baby to the music. But I didn’t have a cradle, nor did I have space in my classroom for one.

I often prayed that the Lord would give me creative ideas for my teaching, and as I thought about this particular lesson, He reminded me of a “cradle” my grandmother once made for me using a big square handkerchief. I ran to the drawer where I kept small items for games and songs. There I had a perfect size square scarf that would fill the bill. While I sang the new lullaby, I spread this scarf out on the carpet in front of the children. This aroused their curiosity and kept them fascinated while I showed them how to fold it just right so that they could rock a baby to the music. As I walked around the circle letting them take a look at the “baby,” there were sounds of delight and “awhs” that told me this was just what the lesson needed.

Those kinds of occasions came up often for me when I wanted to do something beyond the routine in my teaching. And God often seemed to plant ideas in my head just at the right time. He is present with you, too, in your daily lessons. Be sure to invite Him there as your constant companion and helpful mentor. He wants to make anything we have in our hand useful for His glory, if we will just ask Him.

Copyright Shirley Wilson.  To connect with the author, email [email protected]

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