A. Reciting and memorizing prayers
You can assist the children in their efforts to memorize the prayer introduced in Lesson 13, after the opening prayers have been recited.
You can assist the children in their efforts to memorize the prayer introduced in Lesson 13, after the opening prayers have been recited.
 |  |
B. Songs (including a review of previous songs)
Bestow Upon Me My Portion listen HERE.
CHORUS:
Bestow upon me my portion
O Lord, O Lord
Bestow upon me my portion
As it pleaseth Thee
It’s easy to be content
When things are going well
It’s easy to be content
When you’re feeling swell
But what is really more challenging
Is to be content when things go wrong
To be patient in times of difficulty
Perhaps even sing a song
CHORUS
From the time He was a boy
The Master suffered indignities
From early in His life
He hardly had any comfort or ease
But He remained content and calm
Never full of anxiety
He trusted in God and accepted His Will
Continued on ever patiently
CHORUS
Bestow Upon Me My Portion listen HERE.
CHORUS:
Bestow upon me my portion
O Lord, O Lord
Bestow upon me my portion
As it pleaseth Thee
It’s easy to be content
When things are going well
It’s easy to be content
When you’re feeling swell
But what is really more challenging
Is to be content when things go wrong
To be patient in times of difficulty
Perhaps even sing a song
CHORUS
From the time He was a boy
The Master suffered indignities
From early in His life
He hardly had any comfort or ease
But He remained content and calm
Never full of anxiety
He trusted in God and accepted His Will
Continued on ever patiently
CHORUS
C. Memorizing quotations
Below are some ideas that you can use in presenting the passage the children will learn by heart today.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá was content with the Will of God under all conditions. He used to tell the friends that it is easy to be content when everything is going well, when one is healthy and living in comfort. What is more difficult is to feel happy and content in times of trouble, in times of illness and hardship. In spite of all the suffering that filled His life, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá never became disheartened. Through the most grave and difficult times, He remained content and thankful to God. He was always cheerful and optimistic. Let us memorize the following quotation so that we will often be reminded of the value of contentment with the Will of God:
(Life’s circumstances are rarely consistent. Despite the ups and down in life, it is great to try and learn to be content despite the waves that crash around us. It has to be grounded on knowing there is a bigger, powerful God who has things under control and loves us deeply. It takes faith because we can’t always see or understand how God works.)
“The source of all glory is acceptance of whatsoever the Lord hath bestowed, and contentment with that which God hath ordained.” listen HERE.
[can illustrate that idea with a yoyo, things going up and down all the time, or even getting all the children to stand. Up in a circle, and to then call out different things that make one feel good or not so good, and have the children squat and jump accordingly. This is to illustrate how unbalanced we are we aren't practising contentment and our state of mind is heavily determined by our external situation. To make it more challenging or exciting, the children could be holding a full cup of water, a tower of blocks etc., something that makes this jumping and squatting a little more perilous)
Glory
1. After studying science at school, Poh Leng joined a group of scientists. They made many important discoveries. Her work brought glory to her family’s name.
2. Swee loved to look at nature—at the mountains, the trees, and the sea. Whenever she saw the beauty of the world, she thought about the majesty and greatness of God, the Creator of all things. Looking at nature made Swee think of the glory of God.
Bestowed
1. Paulo thanks God every day for his loving family, his good health, and for all the good things God has given him. Paulo is grateful for the many gifts that God has bestowed on him.
2. Without the sun, the earth would dark and cold, and nothing could live on it. The sun bestows light and warmth on the world.
Ordained
1. The King gave an order that all the people of his country should not work on his birthday. The King’s birthday was ordained a holiday.
2. For many months there was no rain in the region, and the people were ordered by the village council to limit their use of water. The restrictions were ordained by the council in order to save water.
Below are some ideas that you can use in presenting the passage the children will learn by heart today.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá was content with the Will of God under all conditions. He used to tell the friends that it is easy to be content when everything is going well, when one is healthy and living in comfort. What is more difficult is to feel happy and content in times of trouble, in times of illness and hardship. In spite of all the suffering that filled His life, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá never became disheartened. Through the most grave and difficult times, He remained content and thankful to God. He was always cheerful and optimistic. Let us memorize the following quotation so that we will often be reminded of the value of contentment with the Will of God:
(Life’s circumstances are rarely consistent. Despite the ups and down in life, it is great to try and learn to be content despite the waves that crash around us. It has to be grounded on knowing there is a bigger, powerful God who has things under control and loves us deeply. It takes faith because we can’t always see or understand how God works.)
“The source of all glory is acceptance of whatsoever the Lord hath bestowed, and contentment with that which God hath ordained.” listen HERE.
[can illustrate that idea with a yoyo, things going up and down all the time, or even getting all the children to stand. Up in a circle, and to then call out different things that make one feel good or not so good, and have the children squat and jump accordingly. This is to illustrate how unbalanced we are we aren't practising contentment and our state of mind is heavily determined by our external situation. To make it more challenging or exciting, the children could be holding a full cup of water, a tower of blocks etc., something that makes this jumping and squatting a little more perilous)
Glory
1. After studying science at school, Poh Leng joined a group of scientists. They made many important discoveries. Her work brought glory to her family’s name.
2. Swee loved to look at nature—at the mountains, the trees, and the sea. Whenever she saw the beauty of the world, she thought about the majesty and greatness of God, the Creator of all things. Looking at nature made Swee think of the glory of God.
Bestowed
1. Paulo thanks God every day for his loving family, his good health, and for all the good things God has given him. Paulo is grateful for the many gifts that God has bestowed on him.
2. Without the sun, the earth would dark and cold, and nothing could live on it. The sun bestows light and warmth on the world.
Ordained
1. The King gave an order that all the people of his country should not work on his birthday. The King’s birthday was ordained a holiday.
2. For many months there was no rain in the region, and the people were ordered by the village council to limit their use of water. The restrictions were ordained by the council in order to save water.
D. Story
Once upon a time in a far away country, there lived a farmer with his wife and son. They all worked together, taking care of their land and animals. Their farm was near the border with another country, which, unfortunately, was constantly at war with theirs.
One day the family’s mare did not return to the stable, and it was soon discovered that it had strayed into enemy territory. Some of the villagers came to the farmer, gave him the bad news and tried to console him. But the farmer did not seem to mind what had happened to his mare. He simply told them, “This could be a blessing.”
Several months later, the mare returned, not alone but with a fine steed of the breed for which the neighbouring country was famous. On hearing the news, the villagers came to see the farmer and congratulate him for becoming the owner of such a wonderful horse. But the farmer was not excited; he observed, “This could be a misfortune.”
The farmer’s son wanted to ride the new steed, and so he did. But the animal turned out to be wild and threw the young man violently to the ground. His hipbone was broken and for a long time he was unable to walk. Visitors came again to console the family for this tragic accident. But the farmer, as usual, remained calm and repeated the remark, “This could be a blessing.”
A few months went by. The enemy tribes invaded the country and the government recruited all the young able-bodied men into the army. By the end of the war, many of the young men in the village had been killed. The young man of our story, because of his broken hip, was not taken into the army, so he survived.
A misfortune had turned into a blessing, then into a misfortune, and finally into a blessing again.
Once upon a time in a far away country, there lived a farmer with his wife and son. They all worked together, taking care of their land and animals. Their farm was near the border with another country, which, unfortunately, was constantly at war with theirs.
One day the family’s mare did not return to the stable, and it was soon discovered that it had strayed into enemy territory. Some of the villagers came to the farmer, gave him the bad news and tried to console him. But the farmer did not seem to mind what had happened to his mare. He simply told them, “This could be a blessing.”
Several months later, the mare returned, not alone but with a fine steed of the breed for which the neighbouring country was famous. On hearing the news, the villagers came to see the farmer and congratulate him for becoming the owner of such a wonderful horse. But the farmer was not excited; he observed, “This could be a misfortune.”
The farmer’s son wanted to ride the new steed, and so he did. But the animal turned out to be wild and threw the young man violently to the ground. His hipbone was broken and for a long time he was unable to walk. Visitors came again to console the family for this tragic accident. But the farmer, as usual, remained calm and repeated the remark, “This could be a blessing.”
A few months went by. The enemy tribes invaded the country and the government recruited all the young able-bodied men into the army. By the end of the war, many of the young men in the village had been killed. The young man of our story, because of his broken hip, was not taken into the army, so he survived.
A misfortune had turned into a blessing, then into a misfortune, and finally into a blessing again.
E. Game: “Sculptor”
Select one child in the class to be the “sculptor”. He or she chooses another child to come to the front of the group and take some kind of position, for example, bent over with arms stretched out. One by one, the other children are called to the front of the group and added to the sculpture, each in a different position, making one large unusual shape. When all the children have become part of the sculpture, the sculptor adds him or herself as the final piece.
Select one child in the class to be the “sculptor”. He or she chooses another child to come to the front of the group and take some kind of position, for example, bent over with arms stretched out. One by one, the other children are called to the front of the group and added to the sculpture, each in a different position, making one large unusual shape. When all the children have become part of the sculpture, the sculptor adds him or herself as the final piece.
F. Colouring: Drawing 15
The Complaining game (meaningful mama)... #braceletmakin
 |  |  |
For this game, bracelets were made as above. It was done in the home environment, over the course of the week. The bracelet would serve as a reminder to "be content", and the children would start the day out with the bracelets, but they would however be lost if the children complained over the course of the day. If they could have a full day with no complaints, there was a family treat they would have e.g. going out for dinner.
As being grateful is a big part of being content - contentment acrostic poem could be done.
In addition to adding a virtue card to the virtue ring (as sometimes we spend two weeks on a lesson - the second week could have the acrostic poem on one side, and the virtue written with stickers on the other side)
As being grateful is a big part of being content - contentment acrostic poem could be done.
In addition to adding a virtue card to the virtue ring (as sometimes we spend two weeks on a lesson - the second week could have the acrostic poem on one side, and the virtue written with stickers on the other side)
G. Closing prayers
| lesson15contentment.pdf |
RSS Feed
