Beyond the Legend of the Sand Dollar

Praise the LORD, my soul.
LORD my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

Psalm 104:1
http://www.biblegateway.com

As I write this, the birds are chirping, and a gentle breeze is blowing. The beauty of spring is a reminder of the new life that we experience through our Savior. As nature begins to awake from its deep sleep, leaves begin to appear on the once barren trees. Flowers grow and bloom, and the lush green grass caresses our feet as we gingerly step through nature trails to bask in the splendor of God’s beauty. In these quiet, contemplative moments, we experience God’s presence.

Yesterday was an incredibly beautiful day as well, but my hectic schedule frequently keeps me confined to the indoors. What an unexpected surprise when, in between quick errands and extended periods of work, God provided an hour for me to venture outside and grab some sunshine. I decided to use my time wisely and visit the California Seashell Company in Seal Beach, CA.

This unique store is frequented primarily by parents, children and teens year round. Because it is housed close to the actual beachfront, many curious tourists stop in and lose track of the time, as they revel in all the California Seashell Company has to offer.

So that children can thoroughly examine the intricacies of what God has created, I love to present specimens of nature for children to explore. Looking around the store, I found myself in awe of the multitudinous array of seashells that God has created.

Later, during a work break, I decided to do some research about some of the types of seashells I had seen at the store. My eyes fell on this little poem I found at Seashsells.org This beautiful, meaningful legend is a good conversation starter and can easily be incorporated into new or existing Biblical science and literature lessons.

The Legend of the Sand Dollar

There’s a lovely little legend
That I would like to tell,
Of the birth and death of Jesus
Found in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely
You’ll see that you find here,
Four nail holes and a fifth one
Made by a Roman’s spear.

On one side the Easter Lily,
Its center is the star,
That appeared unto the shepherds
And led them from afar.

The Christmas Poinsettia
Etched on the other side,
Reminds us of His birthday
Our happy Christmastide.

Now break the center open
And here you will release,
The five white doves awaiting
To spread Good Will and Peace.

This simple little symbol
Christ left for you and me,
To help us spread His Gospel
Through all Eternity

Go beyond the legend this spring, to discuss how God reveals himself to us through nature. The upcoming months offer many opportunities to engage children in activities that can be used to combine science and literature with Bible study.

Spend some time at
Seashells.org Identification to learn the names
of the different types of seashells that your child may see at the beach this summer.

The links below will also assist you with your odyssey.

The Metamorphosis of a Butterfly

AMC Spring Lesson
Planning Newsletter - Part I Bird-watching with Children

God's Presence Revealed through Nature

Experiencing God Moment by Moment

May you and your children experience many unexpected blessings and the presence of God through your studies together. :-)