This is part of an activity series based on C.S.Lewis’ Narnia tales. When Edmund follows his sister, Lucy, through the wardrobe and into Narnia, he meets someone called the White Witch. The Witch tempts Edmund with sweets and then tricks him into doing something terrible. We are fragile, and sometimes we all do and say bad things.
In the Bible, one of Jesus’ friends, Peter, writes: ‘Cast all your worries onto God because he cares for you.’ (1 Peter 5:7)
Changes happen all the time. Some people like change. Some people don’t like change. Some people feel excited and others feel worried. It’s OK to feel both. If a caterpillar doesn’t change, it will never become a butterfly.
Sometimes we feel trapped by the circumstances we are passing through or by our feelings. These circumstances can be various, every now and then, things on the outside (external) make life difficult, like other people or situations in which we find ourselves. At times, things inside (internal) make life difficult, like fears and low self-esteem.
Script
Life can be so busy…
Have you ever heard someone relating a difficult situation in his/her life that took a long time to be solved? Maybe your grandparents or great grandparents shared their experiences during World War Two which lasted six years from 1939 to 1945; a person who waited long to undergo an operation to heal from pain. Maybe when we’ve been waiting in a long queue and it took a long until we were served, and other situations where waiting is needed…
Instructions
Sometimes we can feel weighed down by our worries. Some worries just slow us down, but others can stop us from enjoying the good things in our lives.
Difficult experiences often upset us very badly. Resilience is the strength that helps us to bounce back by thinking hopefully about life, learning from our mistakes and finding help and support. Difficult experiences do not break us but shape us to become stronger and braver.
Instructions
The way we think affects how we feel and behave. Bad thoughts make us complain and feel helpless or sad. Positive thoughts empower us to feel in control of ourselves and our life so that we can deal with difficult situations with more hope and courage.
When I want to give up
Jesus…
When I’m bored you say,
“Follow me, and I’ll make you fishers of men.”
When I worry you say,
“Your heavenly Father knows what you need.”
When I have given up you say,
“Cast your nets on the other side.”
When I’m falling behind you say,
“The last shall be first.”
When I feel guilty and ashamed you say,
“Go in peace, your sins are forgiven.”
When I don’t know where to go you say,
“Abide in me.”
When I want to avoid growing up you say,
“Pick up your cross and follow me.”
When I’m deceitful you say,
“Hurry, I need to eat with you today,”
When rejection paralyses me you say,
“Shake the dust off your feet.”
When I feel intimidated you say,
“The least amongst you is the greatest.”
When I run from the responsibility you say,
“Give them something to eat yourself.”
When I rely on my strength you say,
“I’m sending you out like a lamb.”
When I’m confused about the future you say,
“Come and see.”
When I fall out with people you say,
“Love one another as I love you.”
When I feel unworthy you say,
“I call you friends.”
When I avoid the poor you say,
“You did it to me.”
When I can’t grasp it you say,
“Welcome the kingdom of God like a child.”
When I feel worthless you say,
“Every hair on your head has been counted.”
When my plans don’t work you say,
“Trust in God, trust in me.”
When my prayer seems useless you say,
“Seek and you will find.”
When I doubt you say,
“Here, put your finger in my side.”
When I deny I have met you, you say,
“Do you love me?”
When I abandon you for an easier life you say,
“Father, forgive them.”
When I don’t know what to do you say,
“I’ll send you my spirit.”
Lord, help me not to give up, the way you never give up on us…
ĠuPazzi is presenting us with this session about Hope.
Some points for the animator to think about before presenting these sessions:
Imagine you are on a boat. A strong wind is blowing, and the sea is no longer calm. You see the storm coming, and the sea is very rough. The waves are crashing into the boat, and water is entering the boat.
What are your thoughts? What are you worrying about or afraid of right now in your life?
