Our God of Friendship
A friend of mine, a teacher in North Carolina, texted me earlier this month to ask what my top ten favorite picture books are. This was an impossible task and I think I sent her twenty books in response. Talking picture books made me think about my own students in New York City as they are preparing to return next month. Going back to school is a Big Feeling-inducing experience for all ages, but especially for the little guys who are embarking on this journey for the first time. This experience can be overwhelming, sometimes with excitement, sometimes with fear, oftentimes a little bit of both. It’s hard to be little and not have the language to communicate these Big Feelings. I imagine this was a challenge for a young Jesus as well. Was school scary for him? How did Joseph and Mary encourage their son toward courage? Did making new friends give him a little bit of anxiety?
Our God is a God of friendship. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were creative together in the creation of the world. God walked in friendship with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Jesus surrounded himself with a close knit group of friends, including them in all he did. The Holy Spirit was sent to be our very closest friend and ally. As our children prepare to meet new friends and greet old friends, how can we encourage them towards Christ like friendship?
Our God is also a God of feelings. The entire Bible is a record of how God feels with and towards his people. He felt pleasure in creation, deep sadness in the fall, the greatest love in redemption. Jesus felt every range of emotion we do: loneliness, fear, frustration, excitement, happiness, grief. He did not shy away from those feelings, but welcomed his friends, and ultimately us, into his emotional experience. How can we encourage our children towards sharing their feelings, big or small?
No one will be surprised that I think one of the best ways to model friendship and feelings is through picture books. Clearly, since I couldn’t pick just ten to send to my friend! You should see the lists I have in Wild Things and Castles in the Sky. Here is a (smaller) list of some of my favorite books about friendship and feelings. I hope it will be an encouragement to you and your children as you all get ready to go back to school and cultivate community.
Captain Starfish by Davina Bell, Illustrated by Allison Colpoys
The Heart in the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman, Illustrated by Jay Fleck
Many Shapes of Clay: A Story of Healing by Kenesha Sneed
Ivy and the Lonely Raincloud by Kate Harnett
Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev, Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
You are my Sunshine by Holly Hobbie
JOIN ME in Square Halo’s new home in The Neighborhood to discuss this post and to see more of my book recommendations related to friendship!
We encourage you to order books through our friends at Hearts & Minds, Nooks, Landmark, Nooks, or your favorite local independent bookstores.
This post was written by Carey Bustard, one of the co-editors of Wild Things and Castles in the Sky.
