Since so many parents and children have been staying home for long stretches of time, people have gotten creative with chalk drawings and challenges on sidewalks. I have seen the game of hopscotch in front of neighbors’ homes and have been reminded of the fun I used to have as a child playing outside.
Well, why not make hopscotch a learning game? And who says it has to be only for kids? We all need physical and mental exercise! As we hop from 1 to 10, let’s review some biblical facts? We can teach and rejoice together!
- One: One God, the Father of all
- Two: Two natures of Jesus, true God and true man
- Three: Three Divine Persons make up the Trinity
- Four: Four evangelists who wrote the four gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
- Five: Five Books of Moses, the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch
- Six: Six days of creation (Maybe review in the Book of Genesis what was created each day.)
- Seven: Seven sacraments of the Catholic Church: baptism, sacrament of reconciliation, the Holy Eucharist, confirmation, holy orders, matrimony, the sacrament if the sick
- Eight: Eight beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount
- Nine: Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control (Galatians 5.)
- Ten: Ten Commandments, the Decalogue, found in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy in the Bible (How many do you remember?)
How about challenging youngsters (or those young at heart) to come up with some “Me-attitudes” that would be helpful coping and learning tools? I can get you started.
- Happy are they who share with others, for they shall see others smile.
- Happy are they who express thankfulness for even small favors, for they shall be appreciated themselves.
- Happy are they who perform little acts of kindness, for they will be pleasantly surprised.
- Happy are they who are carefully curious, for they will learn many new things.
- Happy are they who say little prayers throughout the day, for they will feel God’s closeness to them.
- Happy are they who stay calm and count to ten, for they will find quiet comfort.
- Happy are they who pay attention to little daily blessings, for they shall see God’s love.
- Happy are they who are cheerful, for they will spread laughter to others.
Numbers, numbers everywhere! Let’s be sure to count on our own God-given resilience and creativity to start fresh every day with new hope and peace!
Sharon Krause is a RENEW volunteer whose writing has appeared in several resources for small-group faith sharing. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother residing in Manchester, CT. Over the years, she has served in many parish ministries.