Over the summer we hosted a Bible study for some precious young ladies. In the spring I felt the Lord tugging at my heart to provide something for my girls and their peers. Even though summer can be a crazy time of year (what isn't?), it turned out to be a great season to do a biweekly study.
I started the hunt for a study book appropriate for the 3-5th grade age, but was disappointed in what I found. Don't get me wrong, there are several wonderful resources available for the pre-teen/teenage girl, but most of it was just a tad too mature for this group of girls. Most of the resources I found had chapters on dating and boys. These girls are just on the cusp of that territory, so I didn't want to go there yet, especially with 3rd graders. It seemed the only answer to my dilemma was to write a study. Call me crazy! :)
Every other week we studied a topic relevant to their little hearts. We covered:Friendship
Beauty (inside and out)
Joy
Character
Choices
Words
What a sweet time of fellowship it was! Since we live pretty far from everyone, I tried to make it worth the moms' drive time by having it from 4:30- 7:30. They came to swim for about an hour and a half, eat dinner and then we did the study. This was a great way to provide a time of fellowship before hand since they don't get to see each other as much during the summer months. Each of the moms signed up to bring dinners, so I didn't have to worry about that part.
One thing I've learned by having two of my own, is every girl loves a new bag. So we started the summer with a personalized bag for them to carry their study book and Bible. You know that feeling of giving someone a gift and watching them open it on Christmas morning? It was like that times 11. Precious young ladies!
One thing I've learned by having two of my own, is every girl loves a new bag. So we started the summer with a personalized bag for them to carry their study book and Bible. You know that feeling of giving someone a gift and watching them open it on Christmas morning? It was like that times 11. Precious young ladies!Each week I was amazed at their willingness to participate (I had explained at the beginning that it was a discussion type study); their respect for each other and me during the discussion time; and their ability to go the extra mile to be kind to one another and non-cliquey (which we all know is hard to do at that age!)
This week was our last meeting. As I watched them play "diving board charades," the Lord reminded me that we are all little girls on the inside. We need a Heavenly Father, good friends and time to have fun.
** If you are interested in a copy of the Girls Growing in God study for your own daughter, please email me at neweveryam@gmail.com
17 comments:
What a great thing to do! I'm really proud of you that you wrote an age-appropriate curriculum; plenty of time for these girls to "graduate" to other kinds of study later! And what a blessing to both the girls and their moms to have a fun + study time for them throughout the summer. May God continue to bless these efforts and bless you for your investment in these girls' lives.
I am so proud of you for taking this on. You are a great teacher/leader/role-model.
Dad
Thanks for sharing your precious time with our girls. I know our girl absolutely loved it and will be talking about it for months to come. I am so thankful for you and your willingness to serve!
And now I'm crying because your daddy left you a comment....
Those daddies get me every.time.
You never cease to amaze me, friend.
Thank you, so much, for doing this Bible Study for the girls! Lindsey enjoyed every one of them! Our talks were always great after picking her up and right before bed. SO much to share about what she learned.
What your doing for these kids is amazing! I hope you are blessed in everything that you do:)
I've had a difficult time finding a good Bible study for my daughter and I to do together, too. I never thought of writing my own! I did Vicky Courtney's study 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter and it was wonderful! I learned so much and it's been encouraging to me in many ways.
I'm e-mailing you about the study you wrote!
What a great way to spend the summer. Thanks for allowing God to use you in those precious girls' lives. It sounds like it was a blessing to you as well.
WOW! You are amazing! Thank you for being there for Jesus!
So very blessed to know you!
I admire you and love having you as a friend and role model. So wishing my daughter was that age :) God has blessed you with many talents.
I am having a hard time finding the words to say... AWESOME! It really fits. With everything else on your plate..Amazing. How wonderful that you didn't just do a study with your girls but that you invited their friends. This is a summer they will never forget.~Tara
Now I have tears running, reading through the post & the comments...
It was a blessing to me to see all of them playing together in the pool, not leaving anyone out or trying to out-do each other. Wish I could have been a fly on the wall during the study time!
I'm thankful to have such a talented daughter who is using those talents for the Lord & to impact the lives of your own daughters as well as those of the other girls. What a blessing you are, my Sweet One!!
love that you did this and did your own study when you couldn't find one you wanted. I have a going in to 4th grader and I agree that they start making things so mature for them at this age, too early. Would love a copy of this...I'll email you. :)
You have blessed our family in ways you can never imagine!
Thank you for a memorable summer study. Rose savored every minute of it.
(((hug))))
THat is excellant! I've been thinking about getting a group of Grace's girlfriends together and doing something like this...I'd love to look at your bible study!
I'm thrilled that these young girls who are in your study will be the women that I pray my boys want to date.
Just so you know, I'm putting in dibs :)
what a precious study! you are so creative and it is obvious God filled you with plenty of creative ideas to be used by Him. you are such a blessing girlfriend!
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