What can a second grade scout religious award teach a parent about faith? Much if you’re listening.
I am not my son’s cub scout den leader but offered to help organize the religious award to take one thing off the leader’s plate. I was familiar with our diocese process after having worked with my girls on their Family of God religious award as Brownies. At that time, I looked at the work through the eyes of a leader herding scouts through the process, not as a mom guiding her daughter in her faith. I think that’s one fallback of mom being a troop leader.
This time has been different. We have four Cub Scouts working on their Light of Christ award. It’s very much a parent and child process, working through the workbook. But we did get together with our priest to learn about the sanctuary at our church from his perspective.
And while the mom in me cringed at the moments where the boys would explore on their own in the way only 7 and 8 year old boys can or interject with 10 loudly stated questions, it wasn’t until when I returned home and two things happened.
My priest’s response when I posted some pictures on Facebook? “What angels!” And I realized that maybe he wasn’t kidding. That despite the worries of a mom, those boys were captured and interested in learning more about their Catholic faith.
And then I sat down with my son to complete the related portions of his workbook. And as we talked I saw he learned. Maybe not in the way mom wished he would, with the quiet attentiveness that he displays at school, but in his own messy way. And for that, I’m grateful.
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Oh yes! If a boy is sitting quietly while someone is telling/explaining something it’s likely he isn’t listening. I’ve learned with my little brothers that most boys are learning best if their little hands are in the mess, and if they are indeed talking, interrupting, and asking questions. Of course there is a time to teach manners, but boys need to be involved, and it sounds like they definitely were!
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I have learned that the noisier my boys are the more engaged they are. I love that to them engagement REQUIRES excitement and expression. That’s great to me. It’s amazing what we (as parents) learn when we get on their level.
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Prov. 22:6 says “train up a child…” – and even in this, you were still training up your child.. 😀
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we learn so much every day- if we would only be open to it
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I have a noisy, opinionated one of my own. I pray for her all the time, that she’s developing her own relationship with Jesus. Your post encouraged me. Thanks!
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I love this. My son is much older now and often wonder how many times a sqashed his curiosity and learning because I expected quiet and orderly. My advice after having been through the years you are going through now is to be careful not to crush the spirit. Embrace the noise and the laughter and the curiosity.
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