How can we empower our boys to be dangerous to the darkness?
Of Course He Isn’t Safe…
In C.S. Lewis’s book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Mr. Beaver tells Susan about Aslan, the true King of Narnia. When Susan finds out that Aslan is a lion, she asks:
“Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…
To which Mr. Beaver responds: “Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”
As moms, we often want to keep our kids safe. We want to shelter our kids from the evil in this world. Sounds like a good thing to do, right?
Should it be our goal to keep our boys safe?
We protect our boys in the school choices we make, the movies we watch, the books we read, and the activities we allow.
But I wonder if our attempt to keep our kids safe might be doing them a disservice? I wonder if our efforts to protect our children from evil or danger are actually making them weak?
Now, Hear me out for a minute… I’m not talking about exposing our kids to topics that are wildly inappropriate for their age, or making them watch movies that will give them nightmares.
As Christians, we know and believe that evil exists in this world. We have a real enemy who is working to destroy us.
But, instead of pretending the enemy doesn’t exist, or covering the eyes of our kids so they aren’t aware of his schemes… Maybe we need to train our kids to recognize the lies of the enemy. Maybe we need to equip our kids with the weapons they need to fight the dragon.
Maybe, we need to train our kids to be DANGEROUS TO THE DARKNESS.
Train Your Boys to be Dangerous to the Darkness
I am so excited about our two guests that we have on the show today. We are privileged to have a father and son duo, who are probably not strangers to many of you.
S.D. Smith is the author of The Green Ember Series, the bestselling middle-grade adventure saga. The Green Ember has reached millions of readers and spent time as the number one bestselling audiobook in the world. Smith’s books captivate readers across the globe who are hungry for “new stories with an old soul.”
Also joining us is author J.C. Smith, son of author S.D. Smith, who has teamed up with his dad to write a new middle grade adventure series. The first book is called Jack Zulu and the Waylanders Key.
Sam and Josiah, welcome to Redeeming the Chaos!
Listen to my interview with authors S.D. Smith & J.C. Smith:
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QUOTES
GK Chesterton:
“Fairytales don’t convince children that dragons are real. Children know that Dragons are real. Fairytales teach children that dragons can be defeated.”
Mr. Beaver: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
“Safe? Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”
CS Lewis:
“Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.”
Mr. Wheeler: Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key:
“I go out armed with light and I am dangerous to the darkness.”
Heidi Johnston:
“The most faithful stories are not an escape from reality, but an escape into reality.”
John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic
“Ships are safest in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.”
Alasdair MacIntyre:
“I can only answer the question ‘What am I to do? ‘ if I can answer the prior question ‘Of what story or stories do I find myself a part?'”
CS Lewis:
“Reason is the natural organ of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.”
SD Smith & JC Smith:
“We already live in a fantasy world. The fact that we aren’t continually astonished and humbled is evidence that we are captured by an evil enchantment that must be broken. The best, most faithful stories help do that.”
LINKS:
Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key
A New Novel for Kids 8-12
Becca Wierwille, author of Roadtrip Rescue sponsored our show today.
Twelve-year-old Kimmy trusts dogs more than people.
After all, her dog Bo never made fun of her for having one hand. But two years ago, Bo disappeared.
When Kimmy stumbles across a magazine photo of a dog in upstate New York that looks just like Bo, she knows she has to find him. Her parents seem oddly unsupportive, but pink-haired, adventure-hungry Aunt Skylar agrees to a road trip with a stop in the Adirondacks. Kimmy jumps at the chance to bring her furry family member home.
Unfortunately, Aunt Skylar’s idea of a road trip isn’t the rescue mission Kimmy had in mind.
A New Devotional Book for Boys
AVAILABLE NOW!
Learn more at www.DragonSlayerBible.com.
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