Spiritual Conversations with Children

Listening to God Together

Lacy Finn Borgo

• Publisher: IVP Formatio
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9780830846696
• eBook ISBN: 9780830848331
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

We are born into this world with a natural longing to connect to God and other human beings. When children have a listening companion who hears, acknowledges, and encourages their early experiences with God, it creates a spiritual footprint that shapes their lives. How can we increase our capacity to engage children in spiritual conversations?

In this book Lacy Finn Borgo draws on her own experience of practicing spiritual direction with children. She offers an overview of childhood spiritual formation and introduces key skills for engaging conversation—posture, power, and patterns—from a Christ-centered perspective.

"When we are fully present and open to another, we will be changed," Borgo writes. "Indeed, as you listen to God with a child, the child will lead you into a fuller experience of God's love and acceptance."

In this book you'll find:

• Sample interactive dialogues with children
• Ideas for engaging children with play, art, and movement
• Prayers to use together

Whether you are a parent or grandparent, pastor or spiritual director, you will find this to be a friendly guide into deeper ways of listening.

Appendix 1

Childlike Version of Psalm 23

God is my shepherd.

I am a sheep.

The Shepherd makes sure I have everything I need.

The Shepherd leads me to safe pastures where I can lie down and rest.

The Shepherd leads me to green pastures where I can find grass to eat.

The Shepherd leads me to pools of water where I can drink.

The Shepherd heals all the parts of me that are broken or hurt.

Sometimes we walk through a dark valley, sometimes a death valley.

But I am not afraid, because the Shepherd is with me.

The Shepherd walks next to me.

The Shepherd’s trusty crook makes me feel safe.

You, Good Shepherd, will take care of me even when I am surrounded by enemies.

You, Good Shepherd, give me food, good food.

You, Good Shepherd, still choose me and like me, when no one else does.

I am surrounded by good. I am surrounded by kindness.

You are my home Good Shepherd; I live in you and you live in me.

Forever.

Worship Woodworks (worshipwoodworks.com) has sets of wooden materials and figures on Psalm 23 as well as sets on the life of Jesus.

Appendix 2

Three Guided Prayer Pages for Walking a Labyrinth

WALKING WITH JESUS

Remove your shoes.

Take a deep breath; see if you can breathe in all the way to your toes.

One more.

And one more.

Begin to walk slowly.

See if you can feel each part of your foot on the path.

First your heel, then the middle part of your foot, then the ball of your foot, then your toes.

Do this for a few steps.

What part of your body feels heavy today?

Talk with Jesus about that.

Was there a time today you felt afraid? Talk with Jesus about that.

Was there a time today you felt lonely? Talk with Jesus about that.

When you arrive at the center take three deep breaths and talk with Jesus who loves you.

Invite Jesus to walk with you carrying your heaviness.

Begin to walk your way out. Feel each part of your foot touching the labyrinth.

Imagine what it will look like tomorrow when Jesus carries your heaviness.

As you finish thank Jesus for taking a walk with you.

REFLECTING WITH JESUS

Remove your shoes.

Take a deep breath.

One more.

And one more.

Begin to walk slowly.

As you walk, reflect upon your day.

In what ways is this walk like your day?

Choose two things that you are thankful for today. Talk with Jesus about them.

Choose two things that you wish didn’t happen today. Talk with Jesus about them.

When you arrive at the center, take three deep breaths and talk with Jesus who loves you.

Invite Jesus to walk with you into tomorrow.

Talk with Jesus about one thing you are looking forward to tomorrow.

Talk with Jesus about one thing you are dreading for tomorrow.

Imagine what it will look like tomorrow when Jesus walks with you in the good and difficult parts.

As you near the end, thank Jesus for taking a walk with you and for walking with you as you leave.

WALKING WITH THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Remove your shoes.

Take three deep and slow breaths.

Close your eyes and imagine that you are a sheep and that God is a shepherd.

Begin to walk slowly while praying the following prayer as you walk to the center.

God is my Shepherd and I am a sheep.

He makes sure I have everything I need.

He leads me to green pastures where I can lie down and rest.

He leads me to green pastures where I can have grass to eat.

He shows me where there are pools of water so I can drink.

He heals all the parts of me that are broken or hurt.

Sometimes I walk through dark valleys, sometimes through a death valley.

But I am not afraid because my Good Shepherd is with me.

He walks next to me.

His trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel safe.

You, Good Shepherd, take care of me even when I am surrounded by enemies.

You give me food, good food.

You like me, choose me, when no one else does.

Good is all around me.

Mercy is all around me.

You are my home, Good Shepherd, I live in you and you live in me.

Forever.

When you get to the center take three deep breaths. Talk with Jesus about how a sheep feels.

As you walk out of t...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication Page
• Contents
• Introduction: Learning from Christopher
• one • Learning from Jesus
• two • Children’s Spiritual Formation
• three • Posture, Power, and Patterns
• four • The Gift of Eyes and Ears
• five • The Language of Play and Projection
• six • Attending the Spirit
• seven • Whole Person Prayer
• eight • Two Friends on an Expedition
• Conclusion: Mystery
• Acknowledgments
• Appendix 1: Childlike Version of Psalm 23
• Appendix 2: Three Guided Prayer Pages for Walking a Labyrinth
• Appendix 3: A Childlike Adaptation of the Lord’s Prayer with Bodies
• Appendix 4: Holy Listening Information and Permission Form
• Notes
• Recommended Reading
• IVP Formatio page
• Praise for Spiritual Conversations with Children
• About the Author
• More Titles from InterVarsity Press
• Copyright