A Good Story

Recently, I was pleasantly surprised to discover my experience. The movie shared things about our country’s kids enjoying a movie that I loved when I was their past that helped my kids have an understanding of how age. The movie involved exploration of new lands, this country got where it is today. Our kids often express a warfare, and hunting: all the things that an elementarydesire to know about the common history they share with age boy at that time would love. I was surprised because I their parents because they are always asking us questions originally thought that the special effects of today’s movies about how life was for us in the past as well as why we would make older movies seem unrealistic and boring acted the way we did. to younger viewers. I wrongly assumed that they would The final aspect of a good story is the outcome. There lose interest. I am glad they didn’t because the movie is nothing worse than a story that doesn’t end, or at least was a historical drama that portrayed real-life heroism, doesn’t end well. The outcome doesn’t have to be good in justice, and triumph over evil. They liked the movie well order to end well, but it must be believable in order to leave enough that their overly interested dad was able to give a lasting effect on the listener. unrequested background information regarding certain Just as character development, history, and outcome are events and characters within the movie without being too an important part of a good story for kids, these aspects are annoying, I hope. also an important part of their faith. The Bible even tells us

The movie kept their interest because it possesses this in Hebrews 13:7: “Remember your leaders who have things that all good stories have, one of which is character spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the development. It is always interesting to see a character grow outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.” As parents, we are or change in response to the good or bad things that happen some of our kids’ leaders who live out a story with character in their lives only to then ask ourselves what we would do development, history, and outcome right before their very if we were in a similar situation. It is always fun to hear my eyes. They see our responses to the circumstances God places kids say what they would do if what happened in the movie in our lives as well as how we let those circumstances shape happened to them. and mold us. They want to know their parents’ history

Another interesting facet of a good story is a common because it gives them an identity and helps them learn from history, especially to those who don’t have much life their parents’ mistakes and successes. Ultimately, our children will imitate us whether or not we want them to, so it is very important that we have a faith to imitate and that we share God’s Word with them. The good news is that God wants that for us and our children. We need only ask Him and He will make faith part of our story as well as the story of our kids.

About The Author Wally Coffman lives in McDonald, TN with his wife, Angela, and their two children, Ella and Eli. He and his family attend Silverdale Baptist Church. He is a professional engineer licensed in multiple states.