Cultivating Children’s Spirituality

One Sunday in December I sat on the floor in a circle with children in our Godly Play room during chapel. The children had entered the room energetic and brimming with excitement about Christmas in a few days. But as they settled into the space, they readied themselves to hear the Advent story. Pointing to the nativity scene placed on the center shelf of the room, I reminded them, “Sometimes when you see something beautiful like this you are told not to touch it. But this space and this story belong to you. You can work with it whenever you want to.” As I told of the journey to Bethlehem, the children eagerly and gingerly took turns bringing the olive wood figures from the focal shelf to the circle. First the Holy Family, then the shepherds, next the Magi and finally the Christ Child. 

Then, with matches, I lit the four candles of Advent and last, the Christ Candle. I signaled to the door person to turn off the lights. 

“Let’s enjoy the light,” I suggested to the children. 

Silence. 

Their eyes fixed on the flames. I could hear my own heartbeat with wonder at the reverence and beauty we shared. And then, soft and clear, a seven year old boy began to sing, “Away in a manger…” while spontaneously, the other children joined in. 

In that moment we experienced the sacred space we had created together and I witnessed the children’s spirituality. Yes, I had set up the space with intention and chosen my words with care, but the children showed me how to be with God and how God was with them.

In her book, Children’s Spirituality: What It Is and Why It Matters, Rebbeca Nye offers up suggestions to those of us who seek to cultivate the spiritual lives of children at church, home and in other spaces. Based on research, she shares the following criteria through which we can view our environment with children:

Space

Process

Imagination

Relationship

Intimacy

Trust  

I look forward to wondering with you about these in the weeks ahead.

With Anticipation and Wonder,

Cynthia