BugvilleIf bugs creep you out, don't read this paragraph. Scientists know there are some 900 thousand different kinds of living insects. That's based on past and present studies. That's 900 thousand species that we KNOW about. Scientists can only guess at the true number of species of insects. Conservative estimates suggest there are 2 million kinds of insects. Other estimates are as high as 30 million. And that's just
species of insects. Scientists say that on any given day, there are 10 quintillion
individual insects alive and kicking. (That's 10 quintillion, with 19 zeroes.) That represents the largest biomass of animals that live on the land. That's about 300 pounds of insects for every pound of human flesh. And that doesn't include other "bugs" like arachnids (spiders), crustaceans (crabs, barnacles), and myriapods (centipedes, millipedes). Are you feeling outnumbered?
Bug-aphobes, start reading here. Whatever your personal feelings about bugs, all these creepy crawly creatures point to something remarkable: how much we DON'T know about them. Their total numbers, where the undiscovered ones live, what their role is in life. But what we DO know about them, even if that knowledge could fit on a speck on the freckle behind the knee of the very back leg of a centipede, underscores the marvelous diversity of creation and the fantastic imagination of their Creator. In short, knowledge of bugs, or anything God created, helps us better understand HIM.
In the same way, knowledge of OTHERS helps us better understand ourselves. Ever heard a five-year-old compare and contrast himself with a friend? "You like to make worms with the play dough, and I like to run over them with the car." A fifth-grade girl may want to wear lip gloss like her best friend, but she'll secretly note with satisfaction that it looks better on herself. Again, knowledge of others helps us better understand ourselves.
So, come November, we'll be talking about uniqueness (which is learning more about others so you can know more about yourself) and the fact that God made each of us unique. On purpose! By looking for the gifts and talents of other people, a kid can begin to appreciate everyone's importance in God's story, including his own. He can learn that it's okay, even good, to be different and that God made him with a unique blend of talents, abilities, and gifts for a reason. The same God who took the time to design each and every one of those 10 quintillion insects, in all their glorious variety, made each of us. That is truly remarkable.
Here're some things we think are important for kids to understand about themselves, about others, and about God's purpose for them when it comes to uniqueness:
God made everybody different. What is it that makes you stand out? God can use those differences to change lives, yours and others'. Deborah is an impressive case in point (Judges 4:1-24).
God made everybody a somebody. Most everybody has felt like a nobody at some point. Gideon sure did. But God had some big plans for Gideon (Judges 6:11--7:22).
God can use anybody to share His message, even a locust-eating man who lived in the wilds of the Judean desert. Who listens to you? What are your words and actions "telling" others about God? (Matthew 3:1-6)
God gave everybody special abilities. God not only created a package of talents and abilities just for you, He gives you "spiritual gifts" when you become a Christian (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).
We think this is going to be a great opportunity to help kids get to know themselves and others, and even more importantly, their heavenly Father and some of the things He may have planned for them.
"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31, NIV).By Melanie Williams. © 2010 The reThink Group * www.rethinkgroup.org * All rights reserved. Used by permission.Parents,
click here for a GREAT video on this month’s virtue. See you tomorrow night, everybody!
Love,
Cari
