Mommy Musings
Monthly Column by Anni Welborne

I’m so thankful that several years ago, God brought me to a point where I began learning how to read and, most importantly, apply His word to my life and it’s many problems. Parenting is a daunting task, and I need all the help I can get. As a teacher, I was eager to use Scripture in schooling our children. I came across a book that we’ve now been using for more than three years, and I thought I’d share it with you! I recommend it to so many people, and I’ve given several copies as gifts. 

My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God's Word in Little Hearts by Susan Hunt (Crossway Books, 1998) is a real treasure trove of wisdom. It’s ostensibly written for little ones, but I find it invaluable in dealing with all the many behavior and discipline problems that arise in the course of the week. 

Each letter of the alphabet has a verse. Then Mrs. Hunt explains and defines some of the words in the verse. Then follows a story about two children, Billy and Missy, who learn how to apply that verse (and previous verses, as you progress through the alphabet) in various situations. There are also suggestions for review, think-about-it questions, and prayer prompts.   

Taking a cue from a well-known homeschool curriculum (Five in a Row), and because we have two daughters, ages 3 and 6, I thought we’d take a week for each verse. Each night after getting ready for bed and the million requisite hugs and kisses, both girls pile into bed. Then their daddy or I get cozy in the rocking chair next to their bunk bed. We review whatever verse we are on that week, and re-read the story. The repetition of reading the same verse and story each night for a week really helps the Truth sink deep into their absorbent hearts. Usually by the fourth or fifth night, we start mixing up the details in the story (e.g., Billy eating a lizard rather than a pizza), and the girls dissolve into giggles.   

And lest you think little ones can’t memorize very much, even the 3 year old (who has special needs) has memorized the many verses we’ve read over the past weeks. At this writing, our verse of the week starts with V. Her speech is somewhat poor, but she can say the verses, and she clearly understands what they mean. Her speech challenges have given us some amusing memories while applying the verses. The D verse is “Do all things without complaining and disputing” (Philippians 2:14). Try as she might, she cannot say “disputing.” It comes out “buh foo ting” every time. One day, she was whining and arguing about everything! Finally, I asked her, “Darling, are you ‘bufooting” Mommy?” She collapsed in giggles, “Es, Mommy. I dop now.” She acknowledged her sin, and asked forgiveness. And she stopped arguing. At least that afternoon…. 

I am amazed at the wisdom God gave Mrs. Hunt as she wrote this book. So many times I have been able to use the verses in this book to help my daughters change their behavior and their hearts to be more pleasing to God. We first started using this book when our older daughter was about 4. She was having some behavior problems in her Sunday school class. The first five verses of the book really helped her keep her mind on pleasing God. It was easy to remind her – “Remember your ABCDE verses!” 
 

We talked about giving the boys in the classroom soft answers, about being a peacemaker, about obeying us (and thus obeying her teachers), about not arguing, and about how she wants other people to think about her. Each of these verses was so applicable. 

In addition to reading the same verse and story each night for a week, I’ve also selected a hymn to accompany each letter, either starting with that letter or carrying the concept of the verse. The Cyber Hymnal website was very helpful (www.cyberhymnal.org). This way, the girls become more familiar with the great hymns of the faith. Both of our girls have experienced serious medical issues requiring hospital stays. And both girls have visibly calmed when I sang hymns to them, so our hospital bag always includes an old hymnal. And the girls can sing along!  Most recently, our little one was hospitalized with severe seizures. She was struggling during an EEG, and I began singing to her while I held her down. She wanted “Deezus songs,” so Jesus songs I sang!  Have you ever heard a two year old hit the high notes on “Jesus Paid It All”? It was a precious moment, and it brought tears to the eyes of the EEG techs, as they knew just how sick our little girl was. It was an opportunity to minister to them, and it was possible because of this ABC book and hymns. 

I strongly encourage you to use Scripture in training your children.  God made us. He wrote the manual on how to care for us.  When we hold up God’s standard for behavior, it’s irrefutable. If we train our children to obey God’s standards rather than our own, those standards will not change when the children grow up and leave the authority of our homes. And this little book helps make the Word of God fun and applicable to our little ones.