Talking about Grace and a runaway bunny

 

As we get closer to Easter I've been busy finding stories and books for the kids at church.  I recently came across this old favorite, "The Runaway Bunny" by Margaret Wise Brown. It was a perfect fit for the fourth Sunday in lent as in Sunday school and during our Time for Children we explored and talked about the concept and meaning of the word Grace.  Ephesians 2:1–10 was the Sunday school passage this week.  

 

Grace is one of those words we throw around in church  - but for young children it can be hard to grasp just what we mean when it comes to God.  With the children this week, we talked about all the different ways the word can be used.  It can be used to describe movement.  Graceful describes a ballerina, ice skater, or an animal that moves in a very fluid and elegant way. 

 

Grace can be used as a verb - as a way to give credit to something or to honor something – like when we “say grace”  before we eat meals.

 

The "Grace" we hear used in church and scriptures is different.

In the Ephesians passage we read about how by Christ’s grace we have been saved and are made alive.  In this case, the word Grace is a gift.  A gift given from God for which we haven't even asked for or earned.  That gift from God - that Grace - is love.

The "Grace of God" is that he loves us no matter what and we don’t have to do anything to get it.

 

I think this idea is so beautifully illustrated in the "The Runaway Bunny."  This story is about a little bunny's imaginary game of hide-and-seek and the lovingly steadfast mother who finds him every time.  The mother bunny reassures her child that no matter where the little rabbit goes or how he gets there she will always find him and love him. And also give him a carrot. That's grace.

 

I read this book to the preschoolers during our extended session time on Sunday. Actually, we read it twice.  According to Amazon this book has never been out of print and I am not surprised. Many of our kids said they had the book at home and had heard the story many times - and still want to hear it again and again.

  Holy God,  we thank you today for this gift that you give us called Grace. We have so much Joy in our hearts knowing that you love us every single day – no matter what. Amen.

 

 

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