The Mysteries of an Elephant

Today’s post is not typical of PBT. I’m featuring 2 books based on an ancient Indian tale traditionally called The Parable of the Blind Men and the Elephant.

I’ll explore why either of these books would be fun and beneficial for a faith family. The labels at the bottom of this post will give you some ideas as well. You might even find another picture book based on this tale. Separately, I’ll give you some details for both books. The first book featured would be more appropriate for preschoolers or young elementary children. The second book attributes the story to Rumi, a wonderful 13^th century Persian poet who wrote The Elephant in the Dark as a part of a lengthy book of poems. 

This elephant parable is about the human tendency to make judgments and argue based on our limited experiences and perspectives. Both experience and perspective are crucial, but they can be misleading and righteous judgments can cause division. 

Faith families struggle with these issues. Too often people of faith think they have God all figured out when they simply have projected their experiences and perspective onto a limited image of God. Divisions are often due to such stalwart and narrow thinking. This old story is applied to theology often. In his most recent book about The Holy Trinity, The Divine Dance, Father Richard Rohr says, "We are like blind people touching the side of an elephant, describing the tiny portion we feel with all the conviction we can muster."

Delving in to this human tendency would be beneficial for children and adults in your faith family, but let them decide what the story is telling them about human nature. Don't impose onto them your interpretation of the book or you'll be demonstrating this human tendency yourself! 

Picture Book: Seven Blind Mice

Author & Illustrator: Ed Young

Summary: One by one, seven blind mice explore a strange "something." After each excursion, the mouse gives a different explanation. It’s a pillar…

It’s a snake…

It's a fan...

and so on until the 7^th mouse manages to investigate the whole elephant and declares what it truly is.

This book ends with a “Mouse Moral”

Knowing in part may make a fine tale,

but wisdom comes from seeing the whole.

Original Publisher & Date: Puffin, 2002

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet, Audio

Scripture Connections: Trust God; don’t try to lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5); … but some doubted (Matthew 28: 17b); If I understand all mysteries but do not love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2) 

Picture Book: Elephant in the Dark:                                                                 Based on a Poem by Rumi

Retold: Mina Javaherbin

Illustrator: Eugene Yelchin 

Summary: Rumi’s poetic tale The Three Blind Men and the Elephant is beautifully illustrated here. 

Villagers hear of a magnificent creature that has been brought from India by a traveling merchant. 

When they confront the merchant and demand to see the creature, he tells them to let him sleep. 

The villagers decide to inspect the creature themselves.

One by one, several people sneak into the dark barn where the creature is being kept, but they inspect the creature only in part and with haste.

One man says it’s like a snake. 

After wrapping his arms around the elephant's leg,

one man says it's a tree. 

The elephant's ear 

convinces a woman it's a fan. 

This results in lots of arguing and name calling and even shouting and shoving. 

When the merchant arises and parades the awesome elephant through the village, the villagers are too busy fighting to notice the stunning creature or realize how wrong they are. 

But, the children notice and are fascinated! 

This book has in the back an Author's Note and an Illustrator's Note. Check them out before reading to your audience.

Original Publisher & Date: Scholastic, 2015

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Trust in the Lord; do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-8); … but some doubted (Matthew 28: 17b); If I reveal all God’s mysteries but don’t love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2) 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 358

Picture Book: A Single Pearl

Author: Donna Jo Napoli          

Illustrator: Jim LaMarche

Summary: From the point of view of a grain of sand transformed into a highly valued pearl, this story is a hypothetical account of the discovery of the first pearl. The natural process of pearl-making in an oyster is part of the narrative. What once had been an oyster’s irritation caused by the simple grain of sand becomes an object of luminescence and beauty, a treasure to be found. After the pearl is extracted by a diver, it is taken and sold to a Persian prince for a high price. The prince gives it to his wife who later passes it on to her daughter. Each owner prizes the pearl for its rare beauty. It was so admired that pearls became the jewels of the royalty in all of Persia.

Hanna’s Comments: The process of pearl creation is fascinating and so unique. Perhaps that’s why the “pearl of great price” is mentioned in our Holy Scriptures in the book of Matthew 13. There is potential here for conversation about many important concepts such as transformation, God’s creative spirit, beauty, generosity, and treasure.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Disney/Hyperion Books, 2013 

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32 

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category:  Fresh off the Press

PBT Topics this Book connects with: Asia, awe, beach/ocean/pond/river/sea/shore, beauty, blessings, consumerism/consumption/riches, creation, difficulties, discovery/invention, the environment/nature, family, found, parables/stories, parents/parental love, possessions, surprise, transformation, treasure, wonder

Scripture Connections: If you search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:4-5); Parable of the pearl merchant (Matthew 13:45-46); for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Luke 12:34) 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of tweens and talk about the parable of the pearl merchant in the book of Matthew. Discuss what counts as treasure today and how this can lead to greed or idolatry if not held in check.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 331

Picture Book: A Bucket of Blessings

Author: Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal

Illustrator: Jing Jing Tsong

Summary:  Due to drought, the village well and pond have gone dry so the animals are suffering as they look for water. Monkey remembers a story about how peacock dancing can bring on rain. He climbs the mountain to request this of Peacock, but Peacock needs some water to make it rain. Monkey continues searching for water. In a cave, he finds a hidden spring. He fills a bucket, but he doesn’t realize it leaks. As Monkey climbs to Peacock, he is greeted by animals who are excited about the water he has found. They do not tell him of the leak, but they enjoy the water trail he leaves behind. Upon reaching Peacock, Monkey is surprised and disappointed to see that the bucket is almost empty. “This leaky bucket is cursed!” he says. Peacock tells him to look behind him. Monkey sees that the water has transformed the path he has trod. Peacock believes that if Monkey can make flowers bloom with just a few drops, then a rain dance just might work. Monkey pours the drops of water on Peacock’s head. Peacock dances. Monkey hopes. Then clouds form and rain begins to fall. Peacock exclaims, “That leaky bucket of yours… it was a blessing to us all!”

Hanna’s Comments: I have heard the heart of this story used in a few sermons. It is a powerful message about the positive effects we can have even when we are broken and unaware of our influences. It is also a story of perseverance and hope that can be connected to many of our Holy Scriptures. In the back you’ll find an Afterward by Dr. Maya Angelou who states that in this book, “The reader is shown that it is a blessing to be a blessing.” In the Authors’ Note the symbolism of the peacock in India and Hindu mythology is explained. Below I connected this story to 2 Old Testament stories and the concept of baptism. I also thought of the story of Philip and the Ethiopian. One potentially powerful aspect of the Ethiopian story is that tradition holds (It may not be true but the story has been passed down over the centuries.) that the Ethiopian did take Christianity back to his home country where it flourished. It is fact that the Christian Church was established in Ethiopia relatively early, and the Ethiopian Christian Church’s official origin is grounded in this ancient story.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Beach Lane Books, 2014

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press, Traditional Tale

PBT Topics this Book connects with: action, Asia, baptism/cleanliness/washing, blessings, challenges, dance/dancing, difficulties, drink/thirst, drought, flowers/leaves/trees, found, goodness, harvest, helping, hope,  journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, labor/work, legacies, legends/myths, miracles, perseverance, rain, survival, transformation, water, weather

Scripture Connections: Manna given to the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16); Moses strikes a rock for water (Exodus 17:6); Philip transforms the life of the Ethiopian with scripture and baptism (Acts 8:26-39); the concept of baptism

Idea(s) for Application: Read this story to a group of children in a lesson about the concept of being blessed to be a blessing or the transformation that water can bring. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 302

Picture Book: Sadako

Author: Eleanor Coerr

Illustrator: Ed Young

Summary: It’s August of 1954 in Hiroshima, Japan, and a happy and healthy Sadako Sasaki is anticipating Peace Day, a memorial day for those who died in the atomic bombing of that city. Although it is like a carnival, Sadako is reminded that it is first a day of memorial and reverance. Next we learn of Sadako’s dreams of being a great runner as she prepares for a relay race. When spells of dizziness and fainting plague her, Sadako is diagnosed with leukemia, known as the atomic bomb disease. She is hospitalized long term. A friend brings her origami paper and tells her of a Japanese legend. If a sick person folds one thousand paper cranes, she will be made well again. With each crane Sadako folds, she wishes to get better. She meets a young boy with the same disease who has little hope. She sends him a crane, but it does not save him. After folding 500 cranes, Sadako does begin to feel better so she goes home where she receives a beautiful kimono from her mother. She becomes weak again and returns to the hospital where she continues to work on her cranes, reaching 644. Eventually she begins to accept and wonder about death. Her death is written here as a peaceful, dream with her family surrounding her. After her death, Sadako’s friends finish folding the paper cranes. The book ends with a description of the monument placed in Sadako’s memory at Hiroshima Peace Park where every Peace Day children hang garlands of paper cranes. The monument is inscribed with these words: This is our cry, this our prayer: Peace in the world.    

Hanna’s Comments: This book has many references to Sadako’s faith. You will need to frame these contradictions with your own faith in a way that does not detract from this powerful story. Sadako was made famous all over the world via a chapter book for children written by this author in 1977. Much material is available about her, on-line and otherwise. You’ll find short videos, books of various reading levels, supplemental teaching activities, and even music by pianist George Winston. Her short life has inspired many. Choose carefully what you will share with a young audience. This subject is not an easy one, but it will be remembered. Point out that “peace” has many meanings. In this book, Sadako seems to have attained a personal peace as she faces her death. There is another picture book about Sadako, but it was not in our local library system for me to review. It is Peace Crane by Sheila Hamanaka.  

Publisher & Date of Publication: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1992

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 7 and up, 2nd and up

# of Pages: 48

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: There are none for this picture book, but there are many materials about Sadako Sasaki on-line and otherwise.

PBT Category: Non-fiction, Biography, Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: acceptance, action, Asia, brokenness, commitment, death/loss/grief, difficulties, dying, endings, friends/friendship,  heroes, labor/work, legends/myths, loneliness, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, pacifism/peace/peacemakers, prayer, reverence, victims, war/war veterans, wishes

Scripture Connections: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil (Psalm 23:4); blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God (Matthew 5:9); so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18); seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11).

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to older children in lessons about peace or young heroes who have inspired others. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 283

Picture Book: Same, Same but Different

Author & Illustrator: Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw

Summary: Two boys, living a world apart, can be best friends. In this picture book about pen pals (actually picture pals), Elliot, an American boy, and Kailash, who lives in India, share their lives through words and pictures. They discover that they have much in common (same, same) even though their worlds look very dissimilar (but different). Both love to climb trees, have pets, ride buses to school, and deal with too much traffic. Much is different about their worlds though. Their alphabet is different, as is the number of people in their town and family members in their home. They both greet people, but very differently.   

Hanna’s Comments: The author learned the popular saying, “same, same but different” while in Nepal and India. Native Nepalese and Pakistanis use this saying when comparing cultures. You might want to spend some time with your audience looking at the illustrations closely so that you can explicitly compare and contrast these two boys. Be sure to look at the postage stamps on the end papers. Maybe your children can guess in which country the stamps originated.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Henry Holt, 2011

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 36

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet, There are videos of this book on Youtube.com, but note that there is a different live-action movie with the same name.

PBT Category: Award Winner, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, America, art, Asia, blessings, body of Christ, bonds/connections, communication, culture, differences, diversity, exile/separation/walls, friends/friendship, geography, humanity, identity/names, openness, relationships, unity

Scripture Connections: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are studying diverse cultures that are united in their religious beliefs.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 198

Picture Book: Fu Finds the Way

Author & Illustrator: John Rocco

Summary: Fu is an inattentive and apathetic Chinese boy. While planting rice, he imagines himself battling dragons. His father tells him to re-plant the crooked rows and exhorts him to care more because that is ”the way.” Fu’s anger and impulsivity causes him to insult a Chinese warrior who then challenges Fu to a duel the next morning. Frantic, Fu grabs his father’s sword and goes to the Master, but he is confused by the Master’s methods. Instead of teaching Fu how to battle, he teaches him how to serve tea. The instructive tea ceremony is slow-paced, repetitive, and leads Fu into imaginative dreams that teach him to have purpose, flow, and patience. When morning comes, Fu grabs the tea set rather than the sword, meets the warrior, and serves him tea. The warrior is so moved by the beauty of Fu’s tea ceremony that he does not want to fight. Instead he says, “You have the way.”

Hanna’s Comments: This book reminds me of the movie, Karate Kid except for its setting and pace. Fu has only an evening to prepare for his confrontation. His anxiety lessens as he allows the Master to help him become more contemplative and fully present in the moment. This is a good lesson for all of us, particularly when caught up in the fast-pace of modern life or the inner world of our imaginations. Neither allows for self-contemplation and being fully present with others in our community who need us. I was also struck with the use of the phrase, “the way.” Early on, Christianity was referred to as “The Way.” Early Christians were “People of the Way.” Consider finding the connections between the 3 goals of the Master’s teaching (to acquire purpose, flow, and patience) and the ways of early Christians. See the Author’s Note for the inspiration for this book.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Hyperion Books, 2009

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, anxiety/worry, Asia, bravery/courage, challenges, commitment, conflict, consequences/punishment, disputes/fighting/opposition, doubt, drink/thirst, education/learning/school, encouragement, fear, gentleness/meekness, humility, mentors/teachers, mistakes, non-violence/peaceful resistance, pacifism/peace/peacemakers, patience, power, preparation, presence, pride, purpose, quiet/silence, reverence, risking, safety, at table, transformation, underdogs, waiting, water, wisdom

Scripture Connections: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this book to a group of older kids when you are presenting a lesson on David and Goliath. Then talk about how David might have acted differently. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 179

Picture Book: The Name Jar

Author & Illustrator: Yangsook Choi

Summary: Unhei, a Korean immigrant, is quite worried about making new friends in her new school. She’s especially worried that her classmates may not like her name because it is hard for English speakers to pronounce. When she introduces herself, Unhei explains that she will choose a name next week. Her classmates decide to help her out and fill a name jar with possible names for her to consider. During the week, Unhei tries different names unsatisfactorily, and Joey, a classmate, happens to meet her in a Korean grocery store and learns her real name and its meaning, “grace”. The day of her name choosing, Unhei can’t find the name jar, but she has already decided to choose her Korean name. She teaches the class how to pronounce it and its special meaning. They tell her about the meanings of their own special names.

Hanna’s Comments: There is much more to this rich story including a beautiful relationship with Unhei’s grandmother who’s still in Korea. Unhei’s classmates are wonderfully encouraging. At one point Unhei shows Joey her name in Korean characters with wooden stamps. He thinks it’s cool and gets his own Korean name and stamp. This kind of stamping activity could easily be a follow-up for your children when you read this book to them.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Alfred A. Knopf, 2001

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet, There are amateur videos on Youtube.com.

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: adaptation/assimilation, affirmation, aliens/immigrants/refuges/strangers, anxiety/worry, Asia, authenticity, belonging, bonds/connections, change, choices/decisions, differences, encouragement, exile/separation/walls, friends/friendship, grace, grandparents, heritage, hospitality, identity/names, insecurity, language/literacy/reading, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, new home/new location, new school, openness, treasure, waiting

Scripture Connections: Ruth, an immigrant (Book of Ruth); Jesus talks with the Samaritan woman (John 4:4-42)

Idea(s) for Application: What strikes me about this book is the hospitable behavior of Unhei’s classmates. It demonstrates how hospitality and kindness for someone can transform their anxiety into confidence and, in Unhei’s case, pride in her identity. Link this idea with the stories of Ruth or the Samaritan woman who Jesus spoke with at the well. Emphasize how believing that you are a beloved, wonderfully-created child of God can encourage you to embrace your own particular identity.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 164

Picture Book: The Chiru of High Tibet: A True Story

Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Illustrator: Linda Wingerter

Summary: Chiru, animals that look like small antelope, are found only in the northern part of Tibet, a very cold region called Chang Tang. Having the softest, warmest wool on Earth, these animals are sought. Unlike sheep, they must be killed if their wool is taken. For these reasons, chiru have been victims of poachers and are endangered species. This is the story of George B. Schaller, a conservationist who was determined to protect the chiru. After failing several times himself in the 1990s, he recruited 4 mountain climbers to follow the chiru 200 miles to find their secret calving grounds. This was necessary so that Schaller could lobby the Chinese government to protect the chiru.  Although a very difficult journey, the 4 men were successful, resulting in a large protected area being set aside for the chiru to thrive, The Chang Tang Reserve.

Hanna’s Comments: This beautiful story is told in a compelling narrative and illustrative windows with interesting facts. This is a modern adventure story with 5 heroes, the scientist and the 4 mountain climbers. It is a story of determination and perseverance in a harsh climate for a small, meek animal species. I suspect many faith traditions want to encourage these kinds of selfless, protective acts for our most vulnerable animals who, like us, were created by God for a divine purpose.  Photographs of the men and some chiru are at the end.  

Publisher & Date of Publication: Houghton Mifflin, 2010

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet, There is a great short video on Youtube.com of the author talking about her visit to the Chang Tang Reserve in Tibet. It includes some photographs of the Chiru.

PBT Category:  Non Fiction, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: action, adventure, animals, Asia, aspirations/dreams, attentiveness/observation/seeing, bravery/courage, care of creation, challenges, commitment, creation, cruelty, danger, Earth/world, the environment/nature, exploration, faith/faithfulness, found, gifts/giftedness/talents, heroes, hiding/isolation, intercession, journeys/pilgrimages/migrations/quests, labor/work, mystery, non-violence/peaceful resistance, obstacles, partners/teamwork, passion, patience, perseverance, poaching/stealing/theft, power, protecting/protection, reverence, risking, sacrifice, savior/saving, searching, secrets, servant hood/service/service, shyness, sin, steadfastness, survival, unity, vision, wilderness

Scripture Connections: God made the wild animals of the Earth of every kind… and God saw that it was good (Genesis 1:25); let everything that has breath praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book with teens when talking about their God-given vocations. Emphasize that one of these heroes was particularly strong in mind and the other 4 were strong in body. Together they saved a vulnerable species and blessed the world.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 99

Note: The photograph above is the Braille version of this book.

Picture Book: The Empty Pot

Author & Illustrator: Demi

Summary: Ping is a young boy who, like many in China at the time of this traditional tale, has a passion for growing flowers. What he grows bursts into bloom. When the Emperor needs a successor, he decides to “let the flowers choose.” The Emperor orders all the young children to come to his palace to receive flower seeds. Whoever shows the Emperor “their best in a year’s time” will succeed him. Ping receives the flower seeds but has no success; nothing grows. When the year ends, Ping fearfully brings an empty pot to the Emperor. The other children bring brilliant blooms. When the Emperor asks for Ping’s explanation, Ping describes the different methods he tried for growing the seeds, and then Ping says “Nothing grew. It was the best I could do.” The Emperor smiles and proclaims that Ping will be his successor. All the seeds had been cooked, making them impossible to grow. Only Ping has been honest and courageous.

Hanna’s Comments: Like so many traditional tales, this has a clever twist and an honorable hero. Consider using this book when talking about the importance of honesty or courage. Emphasize that the beauty in this story is not only in the flowers but also in the characters of Ping and the Emperor. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Square Fish, 1990

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Yes

Formats other than Book: Tablet, Video on Youtube.com

PBT Category: Traditional

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: acceptance, anxiety/worry, Asia, authenticity, babies/children, bravery/courage, challenges, choices/decisions, chosen, competition, confession, consequences/punishment, disappointment, deception/dishonesty/lies/lying, eggs/seeds, ethics, flowers/leaves/trees, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing, gifts/giftedness/talents, goodness, honesty, humility, labor/work, the Law/rules/10 commandments, legends/myths, resisting evil, respect, righteousness, risking, temptations, truth

Scripture Connections: The story of Joseph interpreting dreams for Pharaoh (Genesis 41); Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9); For we aim at what is honorable (2 Corinthians 8:21)

Idea(s) for Application: This book would work well with a lesson on Joseph when he chooses to tell the Pharaoh dire dream interpretations. This telling took a great deal of courage and led to Joseph becoming an Egyptian leader who saves many during the terrible famine his dreams predicted.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 61

Picture Book: Little Oh

Author: Laura Krauss Melmed 

Illustrator: Jim LaMarche

Summary: A lonely Japanese potter makes lovely clay pieces and origami. One evening, she makes a beautiful paper girl who comes to life during the night. When the woman exclaims, “Oh!” the child’s name becomes “Little Oh”. Loving stories and songs follow as the mother and child bond. Despite being very protective of her paper daughter, on their first outing a dog upsets the new mother’s basket, and Little Oh is lost. Thanks to a grieving crane, Little Oh is returned, but by mistake to a nearby home. After watching the loving father and son who live there, Little Oh folds herself into a heart and does some matchmaking. When the father returns the paper heart to the potter, Little Oh takes human form and a new family is born. Even the sad crane has a family at the end of this magical story.

Hanna’s Comments: This is an original fairy tale that will be enjoyed by girls and boys because of its excitement, including a wild river ride aboard a teacup. There is a great potential here for conversations on issues such as what makes a loving family and the difficulty of grieving one who is lost or has died.                  

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper Collins, 1997                                          

Age and Grade Appropriateness:  3 and up, Pre and up      

# of Pages: 32                                                                                        

Available in Spanish? Not at present                                                              

Formats other than Book: None at present                  

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: adaptation/assimilation, adventure, art, Asia, babies/children, beginnings/morning, belonging, blessings, bravery/courage, challenges, companionship, creativity/imagination/ingenuity, difficulties, family, found, gifts/giftedness/talents, gladness/happiness, God’s care/providence, home, journeys/pilgrimages/migration/quests, kindness, loneliness, lost, love, manna, mothers, obstacles, parables/stories, parents/parental love, perseverance, searching, siblings/sibling rivalry, transformation, unity, wilderness

Scripture Connections: The Book of Ruth; The lost, coin, sheep & particularly the lost Prodigal Son (Luke 15)

Idea(s) for Application: as part of a lesson on how God uses our abilities to help others which also indirectly benefits and even heals us