Creativity Night

Tonight, our family had a 'creativity night'. After dinner, we read a book that the kids had brought back from the library, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I decided that we would all engage our minds by creating SOMETHING that would portray the theme of the book, that giving is a form of love. Here are the results (in no particular order):

Priscilla - The Star Story (eight years old, ten minutes)
One little star was very sad, since he would take a lot. His family was happy because they gave a lot. The star wanted to be happy like his family members, but he didn't know how. So one day he went to the library and there he found a book called 'The Giving Tree'. He took the book home and read it. THen he found the key to happiness! Giving!
He went and got his allowance and ran to the store. He bought a scarf for his mother, an axe for his father, and a stick of candy for his brothers and sisters. He ran home. And he gave to his family. Then he felt happy. THE END

Celia - thoughts on giving (five years old, forty-five seconds, with help from Momma)
Giving is very happy and loving and taking is sometimes selfish. Relationships are very kind. Love comes very softly and sweet. God makes the happy relationships. Family relationships are kind too! Some people around the world have kind relationships.

Jace - a poem (ten years old, about two minutes)
When I give I'm glad.
When I take I'm sorta' sad.
Giving is what God did and does
And it is all because He loves
us.

My entry was the following poem, which I've entitled 'On Giving and Taking'.
Waking his mind to the thought one day
That getting more was what was needed,
He scampered off full of vigorous intent
With nuggets of ambitious wisdom to be heeded.

He grasped and strained until the gusto was gotten,
Victory was firmly in his hold.
Then realized too late the error of his ways
That led to the absence of treasures untold.

For while he had received what his heart desired
He soon began to painfully figure out
That its not in taking for self, but in giving to others
That is happiness and joy's chosen route.

Notice something missing? Sarah decided to draw a picture, which would be difficult to replicate here.

It was a great way to spend a few minutes together as a family and to exercise the right (or is it the left?) side of our brains. Happy giving!