Open Doors

by Anna Zach

My continual prayer is that the Lord would give me opportunities to really engage in these children’s lives for His glory and the furtherance of His kingdom and that He would grant open doors. That day I read Psalm 23 illustrated by Tim Ladwig to my 3rd – 5th graders. I really had such a good time with them digging through this modern interpretation of a profound Psalm. As I read to them I stopped and asked them if they knew what it meant to want – as in the Lord is my shepherd I shall not be in want. An interesting discussion ensued and we came to a consensus as to its intended meaning. This began a wonderful process. Every time we came to word or phrase that someone didn’t understand a hand popped up. Open doors. I really am so impressed by what was happening. My emphasis to them has been that good readers think and read at the same time. And while this was obviously happening, I was even more tickled by it because they were really thinking about the Word of God, and engaging in the pictures and wondering how the verse and the picture related. I think of myself as I have learned to read the Word, of how thoughtless I have been at times, how unengaged I have been and then I think of the special time I had with these children I am genuinely impressed and encouraged. I love the question “what does it mean that He makes me lie down in green pastures?” Imagine for a minute how naturally the phrase, “He makes me” would sound to a 4th grader. Even more I loved the question, “what does it mean that He restores our soul?” What a fantastic question. Open doors.