Maxims

From catechist Dan Teller:
In the 3-6 atrium, a foundation for living the moral life is prepared as the child enters into a personal and loving relationship with Jesus, our Guide and our Shepherd.  In the 6-9 atrium, this indirect preparation for moral formation leads to a more explicit emphasis on behavior in light of our call to follow Jesus. 
One way that we offer this to the children is through meditation on the “Maxims.”  The maxims are brief Scripture passages, mostly from the Gospels and particularly the Sermon on the Mount, that exhort us to live the life that Jesus calls us to live.

Recently, we were discussing two of the more difficult maxims:  “Love your enemies,” and “Pray for your persecutors.”  Two children's revealed their interior response with their comments:

Blake (age 7) remarked on praying for our persecutors:  “We need to pray for our persecutors, because if they are persecuting us, then they won't be ready to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Neil (age 7) remarked on loving our enemies:  “If we love our enemies, then they won't be our enemies anymore.”

In the world

When Sarah was eight, her mom found this note in her bedroom: In the world there was a country.  In the country there was a state. In the state there was a house.  In the house there was a girl.  In the girl there was the Lord.

God In Us

God in US by Dorothy, when she was in the 6-9 atrium.

The Sun Come Up

Elizabeth's (age 12) written reflection:
What is life all about?
The sun comes up, the sun goes down.
The tide comes in, the tide goes down.
You wake up, you go to sleep.
Is life just a routine?
Our purpose in life is not to see who becomes the richest.
It is not to see who is the most beautiful.
But it is to serve the Lord and learn to love Him.
So don't waste your time trying to become rich or beautiful,
spend it on learning to love the Lord and serve him.

Psalm 23, Part 9

Reflections by a 6-9-year-old group on the 23rd Psalm (Part 9):

51. The staff gives me comfort because it keeps me in the flock.

52. Even though my enemies may be rude to me, I have love deep inside me.

53. His love is like a cup that runs over with love.

54. I'll have more than I need for 2000 years.

55. Goodness fills God, like it does us.

56. I'll stay in heaven forever—infinity.

Psalm 23, Part 8

Reflections by a 6-9-year-old group on the 23rd Psalm (Part 8):

45. He is always with me at communion.

46. Love is on my head. Power and all his love runs over me. His love is like a light coming down over me.

47. Lord, take care of me and watch over me with your powerful love.

48. I will live in the Lord's heart forever, and I will ALWAYS be with God.

49. I don't have to say, "I want bread" to the Good Shepherd. I'll get it from Jesus.

50. He may not give me EVERYTHING—but he'll give me what I need. He gives me eternal life.

Psalm 23, Part 7

Reflections by a 6-9-year-old group on the 23rd Psalm (Part 7):

39. He puts a cross on my head. He runs me over with love.

40. He gives life to the entire world.

41. I always belong to God. I'll always be under God's love. My cup overflows with love.

42. When I die, I'll go to God's kingdom forever.

43. Jesus's hands and heart will comfort me.

44. The Good Shepherd's staff is like a big tall tree of love that I can stay behind and be safe.

Psalm 23, Part 6

Reflections by a 6-9-year-old group on the 23rd Psalm (Part 6):

33. Jesus lays me down in my bed for a safe sleep.

34. He leads me to safety, not danger. I'm safer than I have ever been.

35. He tells us we must go the way of the Light.

36. He cares about me more than gold.

37. If darkness is in my soul, Jesus will clean it out with Love.

38. He stands between the wolf and me.

Psalm 23, Part 5

Reflections by a 6-9-year-old group on the 23rd Psalm (Part 5):

26. God is the one.

27. I shall not want to follow the evil guy.

28. God will tell me where to go. Jesus will show me how to go that way.

29. I won't go in the dark, but if I DO go in the dark, God is always with me, so I won't be afraid.

30. Even enemies can come to the table.

31. I don't need anything else, because I have God.

32. Jesus comforts me and helps me overcome my fears.