Resources That Teach Our Children to Guard Their Hearts

Just as I was about to exit the library, I remembered that I needed to stop in the children’s section. I backtracked, filtered through picture books and found several my four-year-old granddaughter would enjoy. In a few days, I would see Isabelle, who loves snuggle reading time with Grandma. I chose titles matching her current interests—Pete the Cat and stories about dinosaurs and animals.

To read to a child is, in my opinion, one of life’s sweetest blessings. The physical closeness, the connection, the learning and delighting in images and words from the pages of a book strengthen family bonds. I chose those books for my granddaughter with care.

The morning after that library stop, I settled in with two children’s books shipped days earlier by Warner Press to my Minnesota home. I anticipated a quick read of Jennie Bishop’s The Princess and the Kiss—A Story of God’s Gift of Purity and of The Squire and the Scroll—A Tale of the Rewards of a Pure Heart. But what I found was more. Much more.

These picture books do tell riveting stories written in fairytale and good-overcomes-evil style. But they also hold many valuable lessons about purity, as in keeping our hearts pure. In The Princess and the Kiss, the young princess holds on to God’s gift of a kiss, first entrusted to her parents and then to her. She faces choices about when to give away that kiss. In The Squire and the Scroll, the squire faces obstacles as he attempts to find the stolen Lantern of Purest Light.  While written for children, the messages woven in to these stories apply to any age. Yes, even to this grandma. Companion Life Lessons devotionals packed with scripture, activities, prayers and other information add value and depth.

If one Bible verse themes these storybooks, it’s Proverbs 4:23. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life (NIV®). God wants us and our children to guard our hearts from that which can make them unclean. How? Further reading of Proverbs 4, verses 20–27, focuses on our five senses, “the doors to our heart,” and ways to keep our hearts pure. Purity. There’s that word again. To keep our hearts pure, we must guard what enters and leaves them.

As an adult, I can grasp that concept rather quickly. When I say something I shouldn’t, my words can hurt someone. When I watch a questionable TV series, I may soon find myself thinking a certain behavior is okay when it really goes against godly living. Whenever I choose to listen to secular music over Christian music, I miss an opportunity to grow my faith.

The Princess and the Kiss and the The Squire and the Scroll address pureness of heart in ways kids can understand. The princess sees right through self-focused Prince Peacock. And the squire recognizes that the fire-breathing dragon cannot be trusted. Children can easily grasp the concepts of choices, respect, wisdom, trust, honor and more threading themselves throughout these stories.

Beyond that, these stories reinforce that each child is uniquely created, and loved, by God and that He has a plan for them. Again, scripture affirms that in Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV®).

My preschool granddaughter may be a bit young to understand all of the topics covered in The Princess and the Kiss. But she’s not too young to understand God’s love, the gift of His son, Jesus, and that she is special. She’s already learning this from her parents and others who love her, like me. As Isabelle grows and matures, we will continue to share with her the importance of living a godly life, of serving others, of praying, watching and waiting as she becomes all God wants her to be.

I encourage you to do the same with the children in your life. Lift them up in prayer. Teach them to guard the doors to their heart. Model Christ-like behavior. And share the stories of the princess and the squire with them, using the companion guides to enhance the lessons therein. Note that the expanded guides are geared to ages 8-12.

If you’re a parent, consider starting a small group study with other parents by using The Five Doors of the Heart—Teaching Children Biblical Purity Basics, also written by Jennie Bishop and available through Warner Press. As the author writes in her intro to The Princess and the Kiss: “First and foremost you should follow God’s leading. He’s the One who put your child in your home, because He knew you were the right parent for her!” She’s right. God doesn’t make mistakes. He’s placed these little ones in our lives and entrusted them in to our care all the while holding them, and us, in His love and care.