Wise Owl and the Beanstalk

Wise Owl and the Beanstalk

This is Wise Owl.  He loves to learn.  He writes down what he learns in his wisdom journal.  Today Wise Owl was sitting in his comfy chair with a cup of tea reading one of his favorite stories, Jack and the Beanstalk.

Wise Owl is in suspense as he wonders what will happen to Jack and his mother.  They are so poor.  They have nothing…no food, shabby clothes, no work, and not much common sense.    He wonders what will happen to them.  Will Jack be able to sell their cow to provide for his family?

Coloring page from Unit 8 Tell Tales

Then Jack does something really silly.  He sells their only cow for three beans, supposedly magic beans.  Wise Owl thinks about what Jack and his mother really need.  What is the best way for their needs to be met?  What they want is to be safe and happy.  They want to live the best life possible for their situation.  Will the magic beans give them the best life?

Wise Owl remembers what he wrote in his wisdom journal this morning…

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.  When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.  Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.  Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.  The beginning of wisdom is this;  Get wisdom and whatever you get, get insight.  Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.  She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.  (Proverbs 4:1-9)

Wise Owl knows that wisdom (living out God’s Word) is what will bring about the life that Jack and his mother are longing for.  No amount of money can keep anyone safe and happy.  God is the only One who can keep us safe and at peace.  Even though the story of Jack and the Beanstalk is still one of Wise Owl’s favorites, he knows that Jack and his mother cannot live happily ever after just by putting some magic beans in the ground.

from 2.bp.blogspot.com

Wise Owl says, “Wisdom is the only way to have God’s best in life.”

Wise Owl asks…

1.  What did Jack do to try to provide for his family?

2.  Can the magic beans meet their needs?

3.  What can provide the life that they long for?

4.  What do we count on for the life we want?

5.  What is wisdom?

6.  How can we get wisdom?  (Answer:  by listening to godly instructions, obeying  your parents, remembering wise teaching every day)

Taking it further with the kids…

• Read Jack and the Beanstalk together.
• Memorize a proverb from Wise Owl’s wisdom journal
• Make a crown to remind your child of the honor that wisdom brings
• Use the  free Jack and the Beanstalk printables at http://www.1plus1plus1eaquals1.com