If I could have any job I wanted I would be a story writer for 'Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom'. It's the kids' latest favourite thing, and to be honest, Dave and I love it too. It's full of crazy, funny storylines and humour and great characters. I get the feeling that the people who made it just had the time of their lives.
Story plays a big role in this house. Both my children love to imagine, to dress up, to tell stories in their games. Bedtime stories are a given, I love to snuggle up with them and to read old favourites and discover new ones. Harry and I usually have a couple of jokes based around whatever we are reading. After reading 'The Hodgeheg' by Dick King Smith, we tried to talk back to front but it was harder than it sounded. We don't just read the classic established children's authors- we love the stories of Captain Underpants too- guaranteed to give you a laugh at the end of a hard day.
The children aren't the only ones who crave story in their lives. In the aftermath of Trump, I saw a photo on social media which contained a picture of a 'fort/den' made of books and the words 'if you need me I will be in here hiding from the news.' It struck a chord with me. I will always reach for a story when things- personal or global- get too much to handle. Recently, though, I have been longing for books which take me closer to God, stories that reflect his reality, where bad is bad and good is better. I've been wanting to surround myself, and my family with 'whatever is true, noble, right, pure and lovely' (philippians 4:8). But I still want a good story, well written. I've also been thinking of how choosing these kinds of stories can help our children without being 'preachy'.
But apart from the obvious Narnia stories (oh how I loved Aslan with all my heart as a child), I didn't know where to begin. Literature which is labelled 'Christian' tries too hard for my liking. Funnily enough, the first books I have found have been (supposedly) for children. I love the music of Andrew Peterson and this website, which he is also involved in, led me to read Peterson's novels (the Wingfeather Saga stories) and to Watership Down. (How has it taken me so long to read Watership Down?)
I may get round to reviewing these book in more detail at some point, but for now I am ending with two more thoughts. This article explains so much better than me what makes a great christian book (as well as furnishing me with a long list of books-to-read).
Finally- there is one book which gives me the courage to climb out of that den of books and look at reality face to face- Trump, Brexit and a collasping NHS notwithstanding. Reading the bible brings me ever-deepening wonder, joy and hope. Might as well quote Tim Keller to finish!
'Christianity does not agree with the optimistic thinkers who say, “We can fix things if we try hard enough.” Nor does it agree with the pessimists who see only a dystopian future.
The message of Christianity is, instead, “Things really are this bad, and we can’t heal or save ourselves. Things really are this dark — nevertheless, there is hope.” '
(Tim Keller, from this article)
Thanks for the Wingfeather tip. Ben's been struggling to find a new book and these might do the trick (my brief is something like Dragon Rider). Have you read the Father Tim Mitford series (Jan Karon) - slightly cheesy but sound and comforting. Happy to lend. George
ReplyDeleteYes, I picked up the first Mitford book in the summer on your recommendation and really enjoyed it- just starting the third one. I've read 2 out of the 4 wingfeather books and really enjoyed them. The second one is darker than the the first though. My kids are super sensitive (like their mum), don't know how Ben is with that kind of thing? They are suprisingly funny too though!
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