Isn't it nice to know that God loves color!! All we have to do is look in the world around us, whether it be nature or our fellow brothers and sisters!!
Show a picture of Christ with children of all different colors.
Scripture: 4 Nephi 1: 15-18 "And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God. There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. And how blessed were they!"
Song: We Are Different (CS pg. 263)Questions: Why do you think God created so many colors?
Is one color more important than another?
What does the color red remind you of? Green? Blue?
Why do we love people who are different colors than us?
Activity: We made skirts, but the Dollar Store sells T-shirts or you could do old pillow cases too. See here (yes, I wish I could be her best friend!!) for instructions. Thanks Filth Wizardry!! Here is how our one of masterpieces turned out.
Christina said, "Mommy if she had more arms, then she could make pancakes and play barbies at the same time and vacuum." My thoughts exactly!!!
Let me preface by saying that I think what you are doing is wonderful overall--you're teaching your kids valuable lessons about the most important aspects of spirituality: love and their spirits. However, some of the full meanings of your lessons are lost by the messages you're not saying. The activity associated with this lesson is an example in which the action seems counterproductive to the idea. Specifically, the lesson or idea behind this lesson is to learn about differences, right? However, the dialogue between you and your daughter regarding her artistic rendering sounds like an idealization of one specific form of woman. When there is such a rigid ideal (no matter how innocent and attractive it seems), how can there be any true appreciation or love of difference? There can't be, and that's why we have racism and poverty, war and murder--because ideals that reinforce the dominant social status quo (in this particular case, that would be domestic femininity) are what everybody is measured against, consciously and subconsciously (at individual and cultural levels), and if somebody doesn't measure up then they suffer for it. I'm talking a variety of degrees of psychological and spiritual anguish, even physical health deficits--guilt, feelings of betrayal, fear, stress (which is significantly and strongly positively related to heart diseases), loneliness, anxiety, hostility. When dominant groups are consciously and subconsciously idealized at every level of society--from discussions and activities with our children to popular media to legal policies--then is it any wonder that hatred for the "other" exists?
ReplyDeleteKeep up the wonderful work, but encourage you to push the envelope in reflecting your overall message in your activities and dialogue--in fact, push it as far as you think Jesus' love would go. Is skin color the only aspect of difference across which we should love others? Does Jesus love not extend to all forms of difference, whether they are racial, gender, sex, sexual orientation, class, or any other social category of difference? If you really want to spread the love of Jesus, you've really got to spread it.
No, the lesson is not to learn specifically about differences "Anonymous". The lesson is there to teach about Christ and how to be one with him.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, don't talk about my children. My daughter can say whatever she wants and draw whatever she wants. If you don't like it, tough. "her artistic rendering sounds like..." Really? Are you trying to critique my 5 year old's work? Shame Shame Shame, I don't even know your name!
The lesson is exactly as the title says: All colors of the rainbow. I teach my children who have an African American father, a dark skinned Sri Lankan best friend and numerous other friends at school who are of all colors.
"How can there be any true appreciation of love of difference?" That's what the KKK might say in the south, not in our home. Nor the words of the Savior Himself when he said, "Love one another." Not love whites or blacks or Hispanics only.
I think you're highly confused "Anonymous" and your words are contradictory. Try to think things through before you post. You just stated, "How can there be any true appreciation of love of difference? There can't be" yet then you post "Does Jesus love not extend to all forms of difference, whether they are racial, gender, sex, sexual orientation, class, or any other social category of difference?"
Also, "Anonymous" I have a blog where I actually spread the love of Christ by spreading His word. So really, what are you talking about?
Ummmmmm..... time to sip some decaffeinated green tea my friend and find something better to write about. This really isn't a stressful or complicated topic to teach.
It may seem like I'm being overly feisty and perhaps I am. I apologize if I come off being snippy, it's just a pet peeve of mine when people mess with my kid's artwork!!!!!!!!!!
To clarify, it wasn't my intent to "mess with your kid's artwork"--you clearly encourage self-expression, and I think this will have a wonderful, ongoing outcome on your daughter. She's doing a great job already, and kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteTo clarify further, I did not say that there couldn't be a true appreciation of love or difference, but that such appreciation could not occur when rigid ideals that reflect the dominant social status quo are disseminated in every aspect of our culture, including our interactions with our children (as your "My thoughts exactly!!!" in response to your daughter's idealization of an unrealistic feminine image appears to do). All I'm saying is keep spreading the love, but don't limit--intentionally or unintentionally--the love you spread.
I know that this train of comments has nothing to do with me but I have to put my 2 cents in. You can do with it what you will and you can ignore it if I have butted in where I am not wanted. However, I just could not let this one go without saying my piece....
ReplyDeleteHave we not all told our children or anyone around us at any given time "...if I just had three more hands." Do we say it in the feeling that we are not adequate or not measuring up to some social ideal? I certainly don't. I say it frequently in the respect that at that moment three more hands would be an amazing help in whatever task(s) I am trying to accomplish. Not that I feel like I am failing in some way because I could use a bit of extra helpor that society might not view me as "super woman". I see this artwork and I laugh because it sounds like something a daughter would say after hearing mommy say numerous times "I could use a few more hands." I see a bright, problem solving child that loves her mother and is merely repeating a phrase that perhaps she has heard said on a few occasions. And in response I hear a mommy with a smile thinking about all those things she could do with a few more hands. I am really at a complete loss as to the supposed problem with the conversation.
There. Got that off my chest.
I just used this one incident as an example of a social pattern that I see echoed throughout this blog: good people doing good things with good intentions, but even the best intentions may sometimes be undermined by other messages that we may not even be aware we're sending out. There is no problem, The Finlays, and as you said, the author's daughter is clearly a "bright problem solving child, that loves her mother"--that wasn't a question either. Yes, my posts are meant as a challenge, but not a taunt--rather, an exhortation to self-reflect and to disseminate the all-encompassing love of which Jesus spoke.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, these are my closing comments.
Love everlasting,
Bahsre
Sister or Brother Bashre- I am assuming you are not familiar with our religion. If you would like to know more, I suggest you go to www.mormon.org. Our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that was from the days of Adam restored in the Latter Days. It is a church founded in the doctrine that Christ is our Savior.
ReplyDelete"Yes, my posts are meant as a challenge, but not a taunt--rather, an exhortation to self-reflect and to disseminate the all-encompassing love of which Jesus spoke." May I encourage you to do the same. Your thought of "because ideals that reinforce the dominant social status quo (in this particular case, that would be domestic femininity) are what everybody is measured against, consciously and subconsciously (at individual and cultural levels), and if somebody doesn't measure up then they suffer for it." is completely false. I'm sorry you feel that way and that in your home that is how you judge yourself.
The only thing in our home that we measure ourselves with is not society or the whims of the world, but rather what modern day apostles and the scriptures teach. That women are precious daughters of God. And didn't Christ command us to "Be ye perfect". That's a pretty hard standard to measure up to, but if we try our best he will bless us.
I already feel contention and that you are trying to argue, so just to forewarn, I will delete all comments that have that type of spirit. This is a blog where I want people to come and use as starting ideas for lessons to use at home or in church. The Holy Ghost is of extreme importance and if revelation tells you not to use the ideas, then don't use them and perhaps consider starting your own blog.