How do you create a more peaceful, happy world and peaceful happy kids?
Through the power of parables and story and the help of children’s books that focus on development of positive social emotional skills: self awareness, relationship awareness, social awareness, emotional self management and responsible decision making.
In episode 153, Tara talks with children's author Lisa Combs, from Best Friend Books, discusses the purpose of parables in the gospel of Matthew, and offers the following quote from author William Broderick:
"Once you've heard a child cry out to heaven for help, and go unanswered, nothing's ever the same again. Nothing. Even God changes. But there is a healing hand at work that cannot be deflected from its purpose. I just can't make sense of it, other than to cry. Those tears are part of what it is to be a monk. Out there, in the world, it can be very cold. It seems to be about luck, good and bad, and the distribution is absurd. We have to candles, burning between hope and despair, faith and doubt, life and death, all the opposites." Taken from Celtic Daily Prayer Book Two Farther Up and Farther In p.888 ©2015 The Northumbria Community Trust
Questions for discussion:
1. What book or parable has made the most impact in your life?
2. Do you have a favorite parable in the Bible? What is it and why?
3. What questions came up as you listened to this episode? You can send them to us (and request to sign up for our email newsletter) at HSP at: holyshenaniganspodcast@gmail.com
We have over 30 book titles at: www.bestfriendbooks.com
Best Friend Books YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@BestFriendBooks?si=HBBvELZbjKV8LYhm
Wild Goose Festival is a transformational community grounded in faith-inspired social justice. Wherever we come together we learn and grow by co-creating art, music, story, theater, and spectacle, engaging in a wide variety of robust, courageous conversations with each other and with thought leaders and artists from other communities. Listeners of Holy Shenanigans Podcast can use the discount code a-tle24 for a $50 discount off the price of an adult weekend ticket!
Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman is an Ordained Minister of Word & Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She was a contributing writer to the Collaborate Lutheran Student Bible and the Connect Sunday School curriculum, published by Sparkhouse.