Costumes, Pretend, and Jesus

I was talking past a display of costumes when a little girl grabbed a hat with a long braid attached to the back. She pulled it on her head.

"Daddy, who do I look like?" she asked.

"You look just the same," he replied and chuckled.

I partially understood his response. She, in fact, had two long braids of her own. It was a moment of pretend, though. It was a moment to be someone new, someone she perhaps admired and aspired to be (in this case, someone famous, although troubled).

When children pretend, they get to try on a new personality and a new reputation.

THAT is what I love about this time of year. It reminds me of how we all have the opportunity to be a new person with a new reputation in Jesus. It is not just dress up and pretend.

He offers us the real thing, the genuine opportunity to be born again.

And when we say, "Daddy, who do I look like?"...  the marvelous thing is that all He sees is the new person we have become.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  2 Corinthians 5:17  NLT

Recommended Books for Kids

It happened at the post office. A young mom was at the counter. She had a baby on one hip and a

preschooler dancing at her feet. She was talking to the clerk about mailing several books that were obviously written for children. The books were on top of a colorful, padded envelope.

My first reaction was to think what an awesome gift they would be for the recipient. Then, I wondered if they were the same titles that the dancing preschooler knew and loved - you know, recommended preschool reading.

One child offering a book recommendation to another is such a fun idea. Here are some reasons why:

• The first child gets a chance to share a title he or she loves.
• The first child stops to think about why the book is recommended.
• The first child writes or draws about the recommendation
• The second child gets a gift.
• The second child not only gets to read the recommendation, but can think about his or her own reaction to the book.
• The second child can write or draw a thank you note and reaction to the book.

What are other ways that kids can pass on their impressions about books they are reading? I love to post about that!

A Traveling Book Club

Under Cover Devotion Club

Book Bag Fun for Preschoolers

I also love giving children's books as gifts. How about you?

Carol

Book Fun with Kids