.webp)
And, because I told you how I came to invent the game Let's make friends with the Saints!, out of a desire to bring my children closer to the Church, today I would like to tell you how I tried to teach them their first letters and words, walking together on the sunny path of reading, of discovering the world through logos.
So that they could learn with love, I designed a story of letters for them, which I personalized for each one, in which the letters became characters living in a certain City, each having its own story, its own characteristics, forming families and kinships. I remember smiling at the cousins "P", "B", and "R". "P" prouder, chest puffed out, "B" more gluttonous, because it has two bellies, and "R", the hurried cousin, always a step ahead, ready to leave. I drew them while telling them the stories, explaining the details with gestures, and their rounded eyes, softened with honey, began to conjure up little stars and new questions. They smiled knowingly, each looking at themselves, to see: "Does he perhaps have a big belly like "B"?" Or how his leg looks if he sets off, like "R". They didn't even realize when, without much effort, they already knew all the letters, like good friends.
"F" was the younger brother of "E", the sister with many combs. "S" and "Ș" were twins, and to avoid confusion, "Ș" had acquired a small comma. "D" lives in that house on the hill overlooking the City, for it enjoys a special reputation, as with it begins God's name on earth... and the word "Love", for "God is love". But nearby lives "C", precious too, from "Cross".
Each letter is in fact special, for its purpose is noble – it serves the Word. They all wished to form those words through which to serve the Logos. But when a clever little boy (it could even be your child, as they greatly enjoy unexpectedly finding themselves in a story!), naturally curious and a bit of an archaeologist, discovers the City and their little Christian dictionary, he begins to collect wonderful letters and stories and invite them into the world. Here, everyone uses them as their soul dictates, beautifying the world or harming it.
But I've talked too long about My First Christian ABC-Book and I haven't said anything about the associated little game! Each letter is written on an individual card and has another matching game card designed, with the corresponding image: "A" – Altar. "B" – Church. "C" − Cross. "D" – Dicher. "E" − Epitrachelion... and so on, up to "T" − Wayside Cross, "X" − Saint Xenia, "Z" − Zacchaeus. Through Playing Alphabet, children learn the letters very simply, playfully, and by making increasingly frequent associations with Christian realities.
That's all for today, hoping I haven't been too prosaic, but I really love inventive activities with children − their little eyes and faces inspire me!
I've noticed in my children, especially the eldest, how much spiritual reading (adapted to their age, of course), and the evening story, told with warmth, like an embrace from God for their pure souls, has built within them. And it brings me great sadness to see Christian families investing money and time in sports training, all sorts of courses (very good ones, by the way – and our children go to athletics, piano, and horse riding), but they wouldn't spend a penny or any time on a book. They say they don't have it. And I've seen, with deep sorrow, that many families do not spend time on spiritual reading with their children.
I sincerely confess that I, in my naivety, believed that all mothers reserved special moments for evening storytelling, with a sacred reading and heartfelt conversations. And I suffered to find that most hadn't even thought of it! Before I wrote my own books, when there were memorials or other occasions, I would give as charity books we adored as a family, to which I was answered with surprise that it was possible for them to remain in the library, because children... don't read. But we cannot ask them to read if we ourselves do not read and if we do not read to them, when appropriate, if we do not spoon-feed them a little of the honey taste of the book. Let us inspire them through our own conduct!
For me, it would have been manna from heaven to receive books, especially children's books, my life naturally unfolding among babies, children, and other duties, with no time left for myself. But I still managed to sneak in some reading, on the sly! So, when a new book appeared, I was very excited, ready to deprive myself of many things to get it, because I saw in it a moment of spiritual intimacy between the Lord and the child, I taking advantage of the tender atmosphere created when sharing Grace.
It's hard to awaken a world that throws money away on salons, shawarmas, or whatever else is fashionable, sophisticated holidays, and nothing for spiritual matters. But enough with the gossip, and please forgive me! I too have poured out a cup of bitterness with you, but I immediately return to the beautiful things.
Enveloped in the atmosphere of a saint's life, the older ones now have grown up with a sincere, natural love for the Church. I condemn myself for not having succeeded to the same extent with the second generation. But I'm not giving up, there's always time for a good beginning! The Lord is always now.
I invite you, therefore, to shared reading with your children, to some educational-Christian games, to a type of pedagogy based on prayer, from which all other good deeds flow!
Maria Tudor
See also: