The Ten Commandments are a launch pad for great conversations with children. Take the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods,” which as Martin Luther explains, means: “We should fear, love and trust God above all things.” We can talk with children about the things that become a “god” for us – things like money, power, social position, technology, corporate entities and even political figures. We can share our own struggles as adults. For example, what about the “gods” of being the perfect mom, maintaining an idyllic household, having a perfect work ethic, or our own wisdom?
There is a kernel of truth in what I first thought about the Ten Commandments: They aren’t for me. They are never just about one person, singular. They aren’t for me, because the Ten Commandments are for us, plural. Every one of the Ten Commandments keeps us in right relationship with God or with others. What sweet freedom we find in these relationships!
This message excerpted from “Light in the darkness” by Lisa A. Smith in the March/April 2023 Gather magazine.
Copyright © 2024 Women of the ELCA. Inquiries for permission to reproduce should be directed to [email protected].