This is so lovely. You're reminding me of my seven-year-old, making pictures of Jonah this past Sunday while the pastor preached about him. I love children's interpretations of Jesus (so often so much truer than the adult ones).
I think writing Christian, or biblical, poems is exceptionally difficult. It’s so easy to sound twee, or derivative, or both. This poem therefore strikes me as exceptionally successful. It’s personal, funny and touching. Congratulations.
I love to imagine us and our bears and little friends all coloring together. My favourite crayon color is seafoam and I think that would make fine beard for Jesus.
He would love a seafoam colored beard. And the disciples could have burnt sienna, a color name that puzzled me when I was in kindergarten and puzzles me now (but it’s a nice shade even so).
Oh, such joy here! And I will tell you how joyful it made me that none of your Sunday School teachers tried to talk you out of using your favorite blue-green to color Jesus's beard, or sunshine yellow for his disciples. That or the solemn little girl with the wheezy cough stuck to her convictions in spite of them! Sweet memories here, Elizabeth.
I think it helped that the kindergarten Sunday School teacher was ... an actual kindergarten teacher, and knew that five-year-olds color how they do. Thanks so much for reading and cheering for that little girl, Elizabeth -- I'm glad the poem brought you joy!
I didn't come to faith until teenhood, but reading this I find myself looking back to my own version of the little girl with the blue-green crayon, thankful for the permission and freedom I've always been able to find in seeking Him outside the lines, so to speak.
I was particularly moved by the idea of our names being colored in. <3
Love this poem…..aah Sunday school!! Did you have attendance stickers to put in a book? Not sure what happened when the book was full! Of course Jesus had a blue green beard, why wouldn’t he!
You know, if I'd been looking at an entire color-picture of Jesus and the disciples I think I might have identified the beards, but as blank shapes on a coloring page? My five-year-old brain couldn't make the gestalt. 😊 Thanks so much for reading and responding, Melanie!
This is so lovely. You're reminding me of my seven-year-old, making pictures of Jonah this past Sunday while the pastor preached about him. I love children's interpretations of Jesus (so often so much truer than the adult ones).
I think writing Christian, or biblical, poems is exceptionally difficult. It’s so easy to sound twee, or derivative, or both. This poem therefore strikes me as exceptionally successful. It’s personal, funny and touching. Congratulations.
Thanks, Thomas!
Thank you for this poem and for the movie in my head that you created through it. You took me right back to Vacation Bible School and Sunday School.
We would have had fun coloring together! Thank you for reading, Jeni. Holding you and your family in my heart.
I love to imagine us and our bears and little friends all coloring together. My favourite crayon color is seafoam and I think that would make fine beard for Jesus.
He would love a seafoam colored beard. And the disciples could have burnt sienna, a color name that puzzled me when I was in kindergarten and puzzles me now (but it’s a nice shade even so).
Oh, such joy here! And I will tell you how joyful it made me that none of your Sunday School teachers tried to talk you out of using your favorite blue-green to color Jesus's beard, or sunshine yellow for his disciples. That or the solemn little girl with the wheezy cough stuck to her convictions in spite of them! Sweet memories here, Elizabeth.
I think it helped that the kindergarten Sunday School teacher was ... an actual kindergarten teacher, and knew that five-year-olds color how they do. Thanks so much for reading and cheering for that little girl, Elizabeth -- I'm glad the poem brought you joy!
I didn't come to faith until teenhood, but reading this I find myself looking back to my own version of the little girl with the blue-green crayon, thankful for the permission and freedom I've always been able to find in seeking Him outside the lines, so to speak.
I was particularly moved by the idea of our names being colored in. <3
I once read a list of ways that small children explained what love is. "Your name is safe in their mouth," was one bit of wisdom.
Our names are safe in his mouth, and he colors them in just right. 🩵
Love from my little girl to yours, Kristine. Thanks for reading.
Love this poem…..aah Sunday school!! Did you have attendance stickers to put in a book? Not sure what happened when the book was full! Of course Jesus had a blue green beard, why wouldn’t he!
I don't remember attendance stickers, Gilliwendy, but that bookful sounds fun! Thanks so much for reading.
Thankful that kid is still alive inside you, Elizabeth!
Thank you, Paul. So am I!
What an incredible memory you have!
Your brain takes automatic snapshots and notations all the time .
I agree with Ron:”May it be so”.
Wonderful memories about stored love Elizabeth!
My memory takes those snapshots, and my imagination develops them!
So lucky to have you for a reader and big sister, Looocinda. 💛🌿
May it be so, Elizabeth!
Amen, Ron! Thanks so much for reading.
The blue green beard is delightful. A special decoration for Bible people. I love how children create categories for things outside their experience.
You know, if I'd been looking at an entire color-picture of Jesus and the disciples I think I might have identified the beards, but as blank shapes on a coloring page? My five-year-old brain couldn't make the gestalt. 😊 Thanks so much for reading and responding, Melanie!
Jesus with the blue green beard! Love it.
So glad! Thank you for reading, Karen.
I love this one. Brings back my childhood memories too…looking at the pictures in my “Jesus books”.
Jesus books, with pictures! 💛💛💛
Thanks so much for reading and being here, Pat.
I *LOVE* this poem. For so many reasons.
I'm so glad, Simon! Thank you for reading.