Dr. Seuss' Please Try to Remember the First of Octember!

Connection to Certain Hope in Jesus' Last Words

In honor of Dr. Seuss' week, we're highlighting one of his lesser known works.

When your child(ren) ask for a new toy or treat or item of clothing they really want, do you find yourself saying things like, "Not today," or "Put it on your Christmas list" or "Maybe for your birthday"? Dr. Seuss' solution to this endless list of wants is to agree wholeheartedly and confidently but give the pretend date that sounds almost real: the first of Octember.

It's as fun and silly as we've come to expect from the beloved Dr. Seuss, but as creative as he is, I sure am glad God doesn't play games with us with the longings and questions of our hearts. Today, we're connecting Dr. Seuss' Please Try to Remember the First of Octember! to Jesus' final words to highlight the certain hope we have and to help our kids anticipate God's promise of heaven confidently. Let's get to it!

I like to use a 3-Connection strategy in the following order:

·      Connect with Me

·      Connect with Another Book/Story I Know

·      Connect with My World / My Reality

After this, I like to lead us through a simple prayer. Whether it’s bedtime or playtime, it’s important to teach our kids we can talk to God whenever, wherever we are. This is an easy way to model this with them.

1. Connect With Me

Before reading Please Try to Remember the First of Octember!, I like to start with an opening question. This helps the reader (child) prepare to connect their own experiences with the story. This is an important step if the application of the story, usually the moral/lesson, is going to “stick.” Consider asking questions like:

·      Can you name all the months in the year? Faster? Backwards?

·      Think of a time when you had to wait to receive something you really wanted. How did you feel? Was the wait worth it?

2. Read the Story

If you're not familiar with this story or you'd like to read/watch the digital version, you can watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hetkotIWZC4

I recommend reading the story to your child or if your child is able, read together. Reading together can take on many forms, such as:

·      The child reads independently only pausing when help sounding out/context clues from illustration is needed

·      Help build stamina – child reads one page, adult reads the next, so on.

·      Adult primarily reads but child reads the page(s) they know (especially true if this is a book which has been read before and is familiar to the child)

·      Adult primarily reads and points to each word as he/she reads and allows the child to read certain sight words known, such as “the” or “cat” etc.

·      Adult reads the words while the child enjoys (and “reads”) the pictures.

3. Connect With Another Book/Story I Know

After reading Please Try to Remember the First of Octember!, it’s time to help the child make a deeper connection – this time to another book or story they know. To help bring a spiritual truth to a secular story, help guide the child to remember biblical stories they know, or ones you can introduce to them. Guiding questions for this title may be similar to the following:

·      How silly! This book is funny because it's ironic. One type of irony is when we as the reader know something the character(s) don't. What do we know that the boy in this story doesn't know? Yep! There's no such thing as "Octember first!" We have September first and October first, but no Octember first!

·      What do you think will happen next for the boy? Yeah, he may continue to wait, but it will never come.

·      The last words the boy heard were "But EVERYTHING'S YOURS... ...on the First of Octember!" This makes me thankful Jesus wasn't joking or playing a mean trick on us when He shared his final words on earth with us. Do you remember what Jesus' final words were? We have to look in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, Revelation, which reveals to us how the story ends. Revelation 22:12-21, Jesus tells us:

“Yes, I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon! I’m bringing my payroll with me. I’ll pay all people in full for their life’s work. I’m A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion.

Here, Jesus is telling us not only did He come to die for our sins but He is coming back and He'll be here soon!

Sometimes hearing "soon" makes us feel a bit like that boy in the story who was waiting on Octember first. But, that is not the case at all. You see, the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, so when we are confused by what it says, it's helpful to look up the original language.

When we look up "soon," (sometimes "quickly" is used here), we see the Greek translation means "suddenly" or "by surprise." One commentary explains Jesus is telling us His coming is inevitable and may occur at any moment! He wants us to live mindful of heaven's nearness and not give in to temptations but to live in a way that honors God, for He is coming and He may come at any moment.

Jesus also tells us in His final words that He is going to pay everyone according to the work they've done on earth. This may be a good reward for those who have honored God and it may be an evil one for those who have not chosen to honor God or were careless with their words and actions.

Jesus then reminds us He was there in the beginning when God created the world - He was the one who spoke and everything came to be! And, even more, He will be with us 'til the end of time. We can be certain of this hope because He is above all things and the same God who created the Garden of Eden for us, His children, is going to restore the Garden of Eden for those who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.

This is why Jesus then tells us about the new white clothes He gives us to wear in heaven and the Tree of Life we get to enjoy with Him. He also gives a strong warning to those who love and live lies. They will not enter heaven and will not enjoy the wholeness God has prepared. Jesus says it this way:

“How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs for good, and they’ll walk through the gates to the City. But outside for good are the filthy curs: sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters—all who love and live lies. “I, Jesus, sent my Angel to testify to these things for the churches. I’m the Root and Branch of David, the Bright Morning Star.”

Jesus cannot wait for us to come to heaven. He says:

“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride. Whoever hears, echo, “Come!” Is anyone thirsty? Come! All who will, come and drink, Drink freely of the Water of Life!

Then, through Jesus' warning we know these words are from God and nothing should be added or taken away from the message He has given us.

I give fair warning to all who hear the words of the prophecy of this book: If you add to the words of this prophecy, God will add to your life the disasters written in this book; if you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book. He who testifies to all these things says it again: “I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon!”

Soon! Yes, suddenly and in a moment! Jesus is coming!

When we understand the gift of grace God has given us, our most fervent prayer is simple but sure:

Yes! Come, Master Jesus! The grace of the Master Jesus be with all of you. Oh, Yes!

4. Connect with My World/Reality

Why do you think Jesus chose these words as His final words to us?

In the same way a grown-up (maybe a parent, grandparent, or teacher) might say "I have to go somewhere, but I'll be back soon. Behave and be on your best behavior!"

Jesus is telling us He is coming back soon and He wants us to live like it! He wants us to bear His light to the world and shine bright His love and His grace that He has freely given us to others. You see, Jesus wants heaven to be so very full! He wants all of our family and friends, our neighbors and everyone on earth to come join Him and the Father in heaven. When we live knowing heaven may come today or tomorrow, we live with great purpose! Even more, we live with great hope! The world needs this hope we have!

This hope is not like the boy in the story by Dr. Seuss. That was just a wish. He was hoping in something not real - a pretend date. Our hope is certain because it is built on the resurrected life and words of Jesus Christ. Jesus wasn't a fairy tale or a made-up super hero. He was God and He came to earth as a man so He could pay the debt for our sins. You see, God placed eternity in every human soul. This means we are immortal beings. Our souls will live forever. And, God gave us the choice of where we will spend our forever. Jesus died on the cross and after three days He rose again to overcome sin once and for all. He has made a way for us to be holy before God once again, and has a white robe prepared for us.

What a mighty God of hope we serve!

And, all these wants and desires we have that we saw the little boy in the story ask for -- guess what? Heaven is so much better! Jesus fulfills every desire and longing in our heart. It's amazing and hard to understand this side of heaven, but it's true!

Family Memory Verse Challenge:

Revelation 22:12 (The Message) tells us:

“Yes, I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon!" - Jesus

Tips to make it "stick" -

• Save this as your phone wallpaper or home screen as a reminder to say this together in all your comings and goings this week.

• Print or copy this verse to a post-it note to put on the fridge or a family memo board.

• Write it on a napkin to add to your child's lunchbox.

• Write it together with chalk on the sidewalk one afternoon or draw pictures of the "good" you see God provide for you and your family.
  

Then ask your child(ren): How can we practice trusting God more this week?

5. Pray Together

Let’s pray together.

God, thank you for your promise. Thank you for fun and silly stories like Dr. Seuss and how your Holy Spirit can use even these to remind us of the last words of Jesus and the certain hope we have in You. Thank you for your faithfulness and for loving us so much that You sent Your Son to die on the cross for us. Thank you that as we believe in Your Son, our story doesn't end in death; we get to spend forever with You in heaven. Help us to have the proper view and understanding of heaven so we live in anticipation of this beautiful promise, like: ______________. We love you and we honor you with our words and our actions. Come, Lord Jesus, come! In Jesus’ name, amen.

May we be strengthened as we soak our minds in the truth of scripture and joy as we remember God's presence is always with us, no matter what we step in. May we experience peace in all circumstances as we practice trusting God and may we rest in His great, unfathomable love for us.

For more examples of children's stories and how to connect "the Sunday stuff" to "the Monday stuff" for your family, check out the children's section at www.CandaceCofer.com

The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.