Discovering a World Created for His Glory

One of my favorite parts of summer has been slowing down for quiet mornings with my toddlers and a good book. Lately, Every Nation has become one of our favorites.

Since before my kids could talk, my husband and I have been teaching them simple truths about God. One of the liturgies we repeat often is:

Who made you? “God.”
What else did God make? “Everything.”
Why did God make everything? “For His glory.”

Hearing my one year old repeat those answers back to me for the first time brought me to tears. Not because she fully understood what she was saying or because I felt like I was doing anything extraordinary as a mom, but because somewhere in the noise of everyday life, I needed that reminder myself. Hearing those simple words in my toddler’s tiny voice gently brought my own heart back to what I was created for.

It’s been so sweet watching my now four year old connect those same truths with the pages of Every Nation. As we read, she gets to see some of the beautiful places God created and the people He created and loves. Each page points us back to who God is, helping little hearts connect the character of their Creator with the incredible world He created. I can see it clicking for her that God didn’t just make the people and places she knows personally. He made people all over the world, each with their own language, culture, and story, and every one of them bears His image.

One thing I especially love is that these aren’t just faraway places in a book. Many of the nations represented in this book are represented right here in our own communities. The people God loves around the world are often our neighbors, classmates, and friends, and many still have family and loved ones in the countries they call home. What a gift to help our children grow up seeing every person as someone deeply known and loved by God.

If you’re looking for a book that sparks meaningful conversations with your little ones, I highly recommend Every Nation.

And be sure to follow Global Gates on Facebook and Instagram. We’ll be giving away a handful of copies of Every Nation soon!

Here are some conversation starters we’ve used around this topic:

• How can our family help others know about Jesus, whether they’re across the world or right next door?
• What are some things that show us how creative and powerful God is?
• What do you think it means that every person is made in God’s image?
• How can we pray for people in other nations and for the people from those nations who live in our community?