In chapter thirteen, Jonas talks to the Giver about choices. His community protects the people from wrong choices by making all of their choices for them. Life is predictable, but safe. Jonas relives memories of choices with bad results—pain, hunger, war. If given a choice between safety with no choices or freedom to choose with…

What do you  think of when you think of a shadow? Funny shapes? Long and skinny? Short and squatty? Eclipses? Creepy, scary shadows at night? In Texas, it gets very hot in the summer. Shade and shadow are good things because it’s cooler in the shade. It’s also darker. Look at Psalm 91:1 (NIV): He…

Saddle up for C. W. Anderson’s Billy and Blaze. Wonderful black and white illustrations fill this older book which was first published in the 1930’s. If you have a child who loves horses, this series is for you. Billy and Blaze, the first book in the series, introduces Billy and his bay pony, Blaze. The books…

What is your favorite gift of all time? Think about who gave you the gift and why it was so special. Now, look at James 1:17 (NIV): Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” God is the giver of…

Last week, Jonas began his training as the new Receiver. The Giver transfers memories from the distant past to Jonas. He experiences color, snow, and hills. Will the memories change how Jonas views his own community? Join us this week as we read chapters thirteen through eighteen of Lois Lowry’s The Giver.

Did you enjoy this week’s reading? Lois Lowry gives many clues about Jonas’s community. We learn about Sameness: climate control, the absence of color, the same skin tone, flat land. Is this a good thing? What was sacrificed to achieve sameness? Would you be willing to make these sacrifices? Why? Differences can be great—colors, seasons, mountains…

Psalm 23 begins: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want…” (NIV) “I shall not want” means I have everything I need because God, my shepherd, provides for me. To be “in want” means that you need something. For a long time, when I read: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want…”, …

This week, Zuno picked The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. Color and sparkling scales fill the covers of Marcus Pfister’s Rainbow Fish, as do lots of lessons on friendship, giving, and a good attitude. Meet an octopus, a starfish, Rainbow Fish and a school of others when you dive into this book.

Have you ever opened your mouth only to have words spill out that you wish you could get back? Me too. The Bible compares our mouth to fire or a wild animal that can’t be tamed. Listen to what Solomon tells us in Proverbs 10:19: “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he…

The Ceremony of Twelve begins today as we read chapters seven through twelve of Lois Lowry’s The Giver. The Chief Elder selects Jonas for a special assignment, and the community honors Jonas above all the other twelves. What is the mysterious assignment and why was Jonas chosen? Look for ways Jonas’s community is different from…