Make the Feast Special for Children

Which would you choose: To have a huge millstone—weighing hundreds of pounds—hung around your neck and be tossed into the ocean? Or to enter into the Kingdom of God?

The answer is obvious!

Yet, in a sense, this was the choice Jesus Christ set out in Matthew 18. After calling a little child unto Him, He stated in verse 3, “Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

In verses 5-6, He continued: “And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receives Me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Put this together: We must become like little children to enter the Kingdom. In addition, how we treat children—both baptized Christians and literal boys and girls—is incredibly serious to God!

The perfect place to spend time with children and become more childlike is at the Feast of Tabernacles each year. This festival pictures a time when the “sons of God” will be born into the God Family to help rule in the Kingdom (Rom. 8:19). Although it is incredibly exciting for adults to spend time with other adults in the Church during the Feast, we must not forget the little ones—no matter if it is at services, lunches, Family Day, Dinner Dance or outings!

Let’s all heed the words of Jesus Christ: “Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:16).

“Suffer” in this verse means to “not omit or leave them out.” In other words, we should make sure that children are included in the plans and activities of congregations worldwide.

While godly outgoing concern is reason enough to keep children in mind at the Feast, there is also something we can learn as well. Just being around brethren’s sons and daughters can help remind us what it means to be childlike. These little people tend to live in the moment. To them it is the little things that bring wonderment.

Can you remember being a child and crouching next to a bush to inspect the petals of a flower? Or gently pressing it to produce a drop of nectar and even trying to taste it? Children make new discoveries all the time because they are curious! They constantly ask questions to understand the world around them. If we connect with them on their level, it will produce lasting memories for them—and help spur our spiritual growth.

Whether or not you have children of your own, you can help make the Feast unforgettable for the youth in God’s Church.

At Services

One of the main purposes of the Feast is to learn to rejoice ( Deut. 16:13-14). Just by looking at little ones, their natural joy is hard to miss.

A baby will usually reward parents with a toothless smile at the tender age of six weeks. This melts parents’ hearts and coaxes smiles on their part too! In a way, joy is built into a baby. But as we grow up, we tend to lose it. Once we receive God’s Spirit, joy is a fruit that we possess as adults again (Gal. 5:22).

Make it a point to smile every day you walk into the meeting hall. You can be sure you will be met with a room filled with toothy grins. If you are happy and joyful, your family and the young ones around you will follow suit.

There are many practical ways to make children feel like they belong at services, too. During fellowship, be sure to include them. Tell them jokes. If they have story books, ask if you can read one to or with them. Ask what their favorite part of the Feast has been. And almost every child has a lot to share about his or her favorite dessert!

Think of ways you can serve with your talents. Perhaps you can sew small bags and fill them with pencils and a notebook and distribute them at services. This will help keep the little tykes busy during services, while also making them feel special because it shows you thought about them. Plan something like this before the Feast starts.

You can also give gifts. (Be sure to avoid noisy toys that may be distracting during services.)

This does not require a big budget. You may have seen a child play for hours with the box a gift came in rather than the gift itself. Even if you provide a simple gift, it is the time you spend with children that really makes the memories stick.

My wife and I can still remember how a gentleman came up to our daughter and gave her a sock-monkey at one of her first Feasts in America. He said: “Every child should have one.” Though she is now a teenager, she still has that special keepsake today.

Children really enjoy arts and crafts. You could color a picture with them after services. They still live in a fantasy world and do not always think logically. Drawing a multi-colored tree is perfectly normal to them.

Kiddos are also very observant and will try to emulate those around them. They are also incredibly teachable. During the Feast, we should look for ways to spark the curiosity of young boys and girls.

Studies have shown that, on average, 4-year-olds ask up to 300 questions per day. Be sure to use the same approach in your fellowship with brethren and young people. Get to know them better by asking interesting questions like a toddler would: “Did you see the pretty sunset over the ocean?” “Have you ever been this high above sea level?” “How far did you travel to the Feast?” “What is the book that you are reading?”

Young people’s minds are like sponges. They hunger for knowledge. You should have the same attitude when going to services daily.

The Outdoors

Youngsters experience their worlds through their senses. Sights, smells, textures, tastes and sounds are the building blocks to create lasting memories. The pleasurable moments you create make the Feast memorable for kids.

A trip to an ice cream parlor, a visit to the zoo to see exotic animals, a fire you light for a barbeque or the laughter of the brethren around them are practically placed in a time-capsule that they can reopen well into adulthood.

Children love stories. As adults we have many stories and experiences to share. Take the time to sit down and talk with children. Perhaps you live in a rural area, and children who travel from big cities are unfamiliar with the slower pace of life, scenery and activities of small-town life. Share your experiences with them. Perhaps you can take them fishing and tell them what it was like when you caught your first bluegill. Show them how to set up the rod, hook and fishing line and reel in a fish. It may be a completely new experience for them!

Every Feast site has different activities to enjoy with the boys and girls. Depending on their age, there is hiking, watersports, boat rides, museums, aquariums and symphony orchestra performances, to name a few. Broaden the children’s horizons and they may just discover an activity they enjoy or even a hidden talent!

If your budget is tighter, you can still take them for walks on the beach and pick up shells. If you are in an area with fall colors, pick up a beautiful leaf and help them press it in their Bible as a keepsake. Discuss the plant life in that area. Allow them to ask questions. Do not tire of giving answers. If you do not know the answer off the top of your head, find out the answer on the internet.

At the Dinner Dance, kids are always eager to get on the dance floor with the “Hokey Pokey” or “Chicken Dance.” Joining in as one of the “young at heart” will only get them more excited!

Remember that children love to be included in decision-making as well. From time to time, ask them what activity they would like to do, or offer choices. Of course, mention your intentions to the children’s parents before you go ahead with any plans.

The Feast of Tabernacles is more than a vacation. It is a time to slow down and meditate. Such moments are opportunities to teach children about God’s Way. Watching clouds go by or stars sparkle in the night sky is a sure favorite for kids. They take time and benefit when not being rushed to get to the next activity. Stop and listen for the buzz of an insect or a bird song in the trees. If you can, literally “stop to smell the roses.”

To boys and girls, everything, including the adults around them, are big and they regard them highly. We can learn from their example. Remember the Golden Rule: “Therefore, all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them” (Matt. 7:12). Regard others as higher than yourself (Phil. 2:3).

In addition, children see everyone as a potential new friend. At the Feast, we should do the same. Use it as a time to start new relationships and solidify old ones.

When approaching the Feast, let your imagination go as a child would. If you tap into your inner child, there are no limitations to how memorable it can be for young and old, including teenagers.

Teens

Although they would not admit it, teens are children too. They still have the same childlike joy and curiosity, but it is a time when they begin to discover who they really are and where they fit as they navigate their way into adulthood. We should not treat them as we would a toddler or even a 10-year-old. Yet we can make the Feast special for them too.

Walking up to a group of teenagers and starting a discussion can feel like approaching a pack of wolves. But there is a way to break through the “impenetrable” barrier. To start, think like a teen!

Teenagers feel like they no longer belong with the children nor do they quite fit in with the adults. Social awkwardness plays a large role during this time, and adolescents tend to be focused on themselves and what others think of them. Therefore, it will take a little bit more effort on our part to break through the wall. We can either help or impede the climb out of their shells.

Since teenagers are older, they can now carry more responsibility and often enjoy many of the same activities as adults. When speaking to teenagers, explore their interests. They will more readily open up.

Another way to engage teenagers is to ask for their help. If you need assistance carrying something, a teen boy is a good place to start. Ladies, see if a teen girl would like to help you babysit four or five kids while you give parents a night off. Having an activity is an excellent way to strike up a conversation.

Try to keep an eye out for a young person that may seem left out and introduce him or her to other teens from your pastorate or those you met earlier in the Feast.

Peer pressure affects teenagers perhaps more than any other age group. The Feast is an occasion where they can be with others of their age group that dress the same, have the same principles and speak the same thing. It is a time they can truly be themselves. We can all help maximize this exposure to “good influences.”

Therefore, help where possible to give teenagers time with their Church peers. You may wish to offer transport, or you can act as a chaperone for an activity. When larger groups meet during the Feast, be sure to run it by the Feast coordinator. This will allow things to run smoothly and “decently and in order” (I Cor. 14:40).

Do not forget that adolescents also enjoy thoughtful gifts from brethren. If you offer a group of hungry teens a pizza or a box of treats, they may devour it like a wolf pack but they will love you for it. Perhaps you could get a nice tie for a young gentleman or elegant pin for a young lady. Or you can simply wave or smile when you see them at services again.

Just like a teenager, we must also find our place and role in the Body of Christ and know where we fit in. Settle into that role and serve others in that capacity. See every opportunity to serve at the Feast as a privilege.

Remember the Parents

Be sure to include the parents before engaging children of any age. For instance, you do not want to hand a child a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup if they have a nut allergy! Always check first with parents.

Be innovative in helping parents show their children how rewarding God’s Way is. We can still remember how a widow who joined us for a meal engaged our children by teaching them how to play checkers while we were checking in for our dinner reservation. All age groups can assist parents at the Feast in their own special way.

Lastly, be sure to allow the kids enough time with their own families so that they can build memories together as well.

Walk in Their Shoes

Children are unencumbered and fully trust their parents to provide their personal needs. As adults, we can also have full assurance of faith that God, our spiritual Parent, will provide and protect those who keep His Holy Days. Our Father wants His whole family—children and adults—to be fully focused, free from worry and fear, on the meaning and lessons to learn during this special eight-day period (including the Last Great Day).

Walking in children’s shoes helps bring God’s Way to their level of understanding. We can assist children to enjoy every part of the Feast and create lasting memories. Doing so will yield great future reward!

Connecting the entire Feast with pleasant experiences for all children helps ensure they will not depart from God’s Way. This is one way to “train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).

Making the physical aspects of the Feast memorable and enjoyable for youth prepares them to receive God’s Spirit later in life. With this in mind, we should all do our part to set them on a path to receive all God’s promises locked into the meaning of the Feast. It also helps us to become more childlike so we can soon be born into the Kingdom.

Think like a child again at this year’s Feast—and it will be the best for everyone!