Objective:  Children will be able to recall and recite three important things that we can offer to God…1) Harms….our sins     2) Hopes…the things we would like      to do/receive     3)  Hurts….people/things/situations  that have hurt us

Materials Needed:

• 3 medium-sized cardboard boxes/cartons, with labels Harms, Hopes, and Hurts on the front respectively. Box should be large enough so that it cannot be held in one hand easily
• Items to place in boxes, such as books or rubber balls etc (optional)
• 4 volunteers

Grade Level:   Grades 3 to 6, but the delivery can be simplified or amplified for lower or higher grades

Scripture:   1 Peter 5:7    “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”                                                                                                                                                          Matthew 6:26  “ Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they?”

In the interest of brevity, I will summarize this lesson so that any catechist will be able to modify his or her presentation as needed.

• Have one child play God; that child will stand to one side for most of the lesson
• Remind the children that just as Jesus offered His cross to God, we can also offer all the good and bad things that happen to us to God also.
• Explain to the children that, in addition to our thanks, praise, and requests, we can offer three other things to God
• Give the box labeled “Harms” to one child and explain that this box represents those times that we hurt God, others, or ourselves by not obeying what God wants us to do.
• Ask the children what we call those times…invariably someone will say “sin” and so ask the children how we “let go” of our sins….confession.
• Give the box labeled “Hopes” to one child and explain that this box represents those things we want to do in the future, such as passing a test, getting on the soccer team, or becoming an athlete.  Explain to the children that while we can prepare for these things, we have to trust in God and leave it up to  Him if we will get what we want because He knows what is best for us.
• Give the box labeled “Hurts” to the last child and explain that these are the times we have been hurt by people or when things do not go our way.  Explain that, just as Jesus forgave those who hurt Him, we too should forgive people for hurting us and ourselves when we cannot do the things we wanted to do.
• Ask the children to try to hug or shake hands while holding their box.  Now ask the children with the boxes to give their boxes to the child playing God.
• Close by telling the children that they cannot love and help each other as God wants them to until they give their boxes to God as well.

2016   Gabriel Garnica