children Archives - Kristina Lunde

February 27, 2026 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Sunday School Strategy: Attitude is Key

No, I’m not talking about the childrens’ attitudes, although that comes into consideration when teaching. I’m talking about my attitude as a Sunday school teacher. I was not a good candidate to teach kids at church—Sunday school, nursery, midweek programs, or Vacation Bible school. Or anywhere. At all. Because of my attitude.

As a child, I loved to babysit. I wasn’t thrilled about helping with my ten-years-younger brother. Yes, I helped when my mother asked, but often with a reluctant and resentful attitude. Selfishly, I didn’t want to give up playing or my preteen activities. But the experience I gained with my brother made me a popular neighborhood babysitter, especially for babies. As a preteen, watching my brother wasn’t fun, but I enjoyed earning money and babysitting for other kids.

Babysitting gave me lots of experience with children. I knew kids required work and lots of patience. I never had fantasies of sweet little cherub babies to play dress-up or house. That was not my idea of fun. In fact, I turned the other direction and decided to avoid kids in my later teens. In my twenties, I became very career-focused. My goals did not include marriage or children in my twenties or possibly my thirties. From my career-centered perspective, I considered children noisemakers at best, and an obstacle to career goals at worst.

Later, after years of marriage, God worked in both my husband and me to change our outlook. He softened us to children overall and, even more challenging, to the idea of having children ourselves. Click ahead to our late-thirties, and God had drastically changed our priorities. Some might describe this as a 180 degree change, but the difference was more than one-dimensional. First, I gave up my dream job in biomedical device research to slow down for a pregnancy. God expanded our lives to include two precious littles, plus the chaos and responsibility of a growing family. Then I gave up my rewarding nursing faculty job to change my focus to at-home mothering. My husband and I chose to live on his salary as I jumped off the career track.

During that process, God softened me to children. He awakened in me a desire to teach my own children first, and then other children. It started, as it often does, with a shortage of church nursery workers. As I took turns helping in the nursery, I started to enjoy working with kids. My developmental psychology and pediatric nursing studies came back to me as I spent time with children. I loved to observe their unique characteristics as they achieved developmental milestones. Many of the kids I watched in the infant and toddler nurseries were my children’s friends, whose parents I knew. What a bond that created, to spend time with my children’s friends and see them learn and grow. I found joy in seeing babies learn to sit up, toddlers give up crawling to walk, and children develop speech.

Thanks to amazing mentors like Kathy K in the toddler nursery, I learned how to teach. I remember her reading, while sometimes using a puppet, for a short lesson. At most a few minutes long, the lesson was repeated at least three separate times. That made so much sense to me. Teach kids to their limit of attention span. Yes, it’s short, but you can repeat the lesson several times during the Sunday school hour.

Kathy helped me realize the importance of teaching the lesson at the child’s developmental level. I have employed that tactic many times in the intervening decades. Prepare the lesson for the child’s level of understanding. Recognize the limits of their attention span. Even a baby can be read to, and the book can be repeated at intervals. Respect children’s activity levels. Look for activities in the book that can be mimicked.

I still use those teaching insights. For example, my children’s book Silly Lily and the Polka-Dot Lunch visually and verbally depicts the main character’s anger. During my author visits, I point out illustrations that depict Lily’s anger and we talk about turning your anger around. Then I turn the page and point out how Lily changed her words and body language. As a group, we then stand up and try the same thing. Starting with angry body language, we turn around and change to kind, gentle actions.

Just like Lily needed an attitude turn-around, so God had to change my attitude about children. I once found children too much work and a distraction from my goals, but God convicted and softened my heart. Now one of my life goals is to pour Jesus into children. Only God could turn this self-centered career woman into an avid Sunday school teacher. No longer reluctant, I now love teaching kids at church during Sunday school, midweek programs, and Vacation Bible school.

October 31, 2025 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Sunday School Strategy: Channel the Energy

“Please stop jumping on the wall!” That request makes no sense—unless you taught Sunday school where I did. What artist would paint a mural of a life-sized punching bag in a classroom for first-grade boys?! Other items were painted on the wall, but I only remember that punching bag. Every Sunday, the boys jumped sideways onto the punching bag, as if they thought the mural would bounce backwards. No, that did not channel the energy constructively. Instead of burning up energy, their sidekicks revved up their competitive juices.

During a particularly rambunctious Sunday school class, I sighed and looked through the narrow window on our door. I always chose to teach classes my children were not attending. But this time I wondered if my daughter’s first grade class would have been an easier choice. When I glanced across the hall, I saw my daughter and her friend jumping on the table. With a shudder, I turned back to the energetic but obedient boys who responded when asked to stop kicking.

Since that side-kicking year, I have tried to channel the energy and exuberance of kids in my classes. God gifts children with talents and attributes to deal with the life he designed for them. Faced with high-energy kids, one Sunday school teacher reminded herself of that by thinking, “Future youth pastor.” We don’t know God’s plan for these kids—that is why we need God’s help and guidance to teach them. As a Sunday School teacher, I try not to squelch kids’ exuberance, but nurture them and channel the energy instead. My job is to teach kids about Jesus, present God’s Word, and guide them in developing learning habits. Even if their energy overwhelms me.

“B, do a learning circle!” From one side of the small room, B ran around the table to identify the Bible book on a poster. The “learning circle,” as I called it, helped B connect the memory verse reference to the list of Bible books. When B felt particularly restless, I had him run two or three circles per lesson point. My goals included B’s comprehension across different information sources, plus burning off some energy. And not necessarily in that order of importance. B learned quickly, but spending some energy along the way seemed essential to help him focus.

Songs with hand motions are helpful to transition from distractions back to the lesson. Whether basic gestures for preschoolers or actual American Sign Language, hand motions help kids expend energy and learn songs. I am grateful for online resources where I can easily search for “Sunday school songs” or “hand motions.” Kids are quick to learn hand motions—often I am the slow one to catch on.

Other than songs, energy-siphoning lesson-focused activities include jumping jacks, marching, walking, and jump-roping. Jumping jacks can be challenging for kindergardeners, but by age 6 or 7, kids have mastered the skill. I like the simplistic directions to make an X, clap, and then make an I for a jumping jack. Along with marching, jump-roping provides an easy-to-follow, regular rhythm for reciting learned concepts or memorized Bible verses. This is especially true for repetitive verses like Luke 10:27 and Philippians 4:8. I practice the rhythm of the verse or concept on my own before we work on it as a group.

Don’t teach in a room with a punching bag mural. Although unique, I know that’s not much of a teaching strategy. Thankfully, God is an endless source for classroom help as I pray and follow His guidance. My ongoing challenge is to avoid squelching children’s God-given energy as I teach about Jesus. May God give us insight on helping children channel their energy into learning His Word.

May 22, 2025 by Kristina Lunde 1 Comment

Book Launch: Henry the Heron Teaches Me About Grief

In Henry the Heron Teaches Me About Grief, a heron’s migration provides an engaging metaphor for grieving children. Geared to four through eight year-olds, this book centers on a biblical perspective of eternal life with Jesus (John 3:16). Lively watercolors depict sweeping landscapes and flying herons as a boy processes his grief.

Storyline

Expressed in rhyming verse, this first-person narrative follows a young boy as he befriends a heron in his new neighborhood. The boy creates an imaginary friendship with the heron and learns about migration. After the death of his grandmother, the boy experiences grief and discovers a comforting metaphor in Henry the heron’s migration.

Abigail Porter’s illustrations of a child’s grief experience echo the poignant emotions expressed in Kristina Lunde’s rhymes. Written for children, and the adults who help them process grief, this picture book presents concepts of death and heaven from a Bible-based perspective. As the boy begins to understand his grief, he compares and contrasts death with the migration of a heron.

Grief Support

The pacing of the book’s content offers discussion opportunities geared to the child’s level of understanding and interest. Beyond serious depictions of grief, whimsical illustrations and the boy’s imagination offer many ideas for lighthearted conversations. For example, a child not yet ready to discuss grief might focus on the humorous heron illustrations.

When working with grieving children, experts suggest being open to discuss grief concepts whenever children are ready. In this book, the story line and varied illustrations present many topics, ranging from silly to serious. Children may want to discuss grief or a cheerful topic like the boy’s imagination—or both. Henry the Heron Teaches Me About Grief is a picture book designed to introduce grieving children to God’s comfort.

April 23, 2025 by Kristina Lunde 2 Comments

Children Pray in Worship to God

One of my favorite volunteer activities is helping with childcare for BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) leadership meetings. Last week, three adults watched two babies (four and eight months-old) and ten kids, ages three to seven. Besides encouraging the children’s imagination with lots of free play, we enjoyed song time and a short Bible story. (The Father Abraham song I have known for over fifty years still gets everyone moving and laughing!) We don’t have crafts or long periods of focused time, because that comes afterward in their 1½ hour BSF classes. Of course, we also had snack time, with kids sitting in small chairs at a low table.

As they crunched on bright orange kid crackers, I suddenly realized that we hadn’t prayed. I apologized that I had forgotten to thank God for our snack. Then I asked the kids to pray. Without further prompting, they dropped their beloved crackers and folded their hands. Three of them immediately volunteered to pray. I asked four-and-a half-year-old K to start, and he prayed seriously and in detail. K thanked God for the day, for being able to play at BSF, and for the crackers.

Then I asked four-year-old S to pray. S kept his head down and his voice soft. We only understood a few words (thank you, God, snack), but his prayer was obviously sincere. I nodded when four-year-old T asked to pray next. Hands covered with bright-colored marks from her previous day’s artwork, T folded them tightly and bowed her head. Like the other two prayers, T’s expression of gratitude to God soared in humble trust.

These precious kids literally dropped everything to spend time with God. I felt like they were leading me in worship as they thanked God for everything. And I mean everything: all three of them listed what they ate, did, and aspects of their play. Their prayers convicted me of my forgetfulness and casual attitude about prayer. They showed me that thanking God for a few crackers can be a powerful act of worship.

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:13-15

Lord Jesus, please bless these precious children whose hearts are full of gratitude and love for you. Keep their faith and trust firmly rooted in Jesus, as you grow and guide them throughout their lives. Like their honest gratitude for crackers and playtime, help me to come before you in wonder for all your blessings. Teach me to pray in worship and honor of you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

March 30, 2025 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Writing a Children’s Book on Death and Grief

A children’s book about grief. That’s what I wanted for my six and eight year-old children when their father—my husband—died twenty years ago. How could I explain the absence of their father and the permanence of his death? Living that grievous reality, how could I emphasize the truth of Jesus Christ and our hope of heaven? I talked about these concepts with my children and we read different books, especially the Bible. But heaven seemed a long way off after our beloved Daddy suddenly disappeared from everyday life.

My soon-to-be-released book, Henry the Heron Teaches me About Grief, presents truths about death, grief, and faith in Jesus. I wrote this picture book for grieving children—and for the adults who love them. The book relays the story through Abigail Porter’s heartwarming illustrations. Whimsical visual details provide ideas for conversation starters. The illustrations offer opportunities to either lighten the topic or discuss it further, when the child is ready.

Dying is not a fun or easy topic for a children’s book. Even with playful illustrations, a book on death can be challenging to present at a child’s level. The facts about death need to be presented in straightforward language appropriate for the child’s level of development. The finality of death is difficult for children to understand. Children, and likewise adults, need time to recognize and mourn the absence of their deceased loved one.

Biblical truths can help children better understand life and death. God’s Word presents the most important truth about life: salvation is found in Jesus alone (Romans 10:9). With that foundation, children can accept God’s promise of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus (John 3:16). Eternal life is the outcome of knowing the one true God and believing in His son Jesus Christ (John 17:3). The earthly physical death we all face as humans is a tough reality check, even for adults. As believers in Christ, we hold onto the certainty of eternal life after our earthly death (1 John 5:11-12).

A children’s book that addresses death needs to address grief, the feelings that come after a loved one dies. In processing grief, both children and adults may experience a variety of emotions. Children may describe it as actual pain. Crying, feeling bad, and wondering how long grief lasts are common aspects of grief. Funerals, mourning rituals, and conversations provide opportunities to honor and remember the deceased loved one. When and if children are ready, involve them in these activities to help them process their grief. Adults can role-model how reminiscing about a loved one can be both sad and comforting.

Although I did find some good children’s grief books, I finally wrote the book that I would have wanted. My idea started when I saw a great blue heron along the upper headwaters of the Mississippi River. I enjoyed seeing him in our area all summer long. In fall, I realized that the heron had migrated.

After much thought, I wrote a story that centers on this metaphor from God’s creation. Together, the heron’s migration and his inevitable return parallel how believers in Christ will see each other in heaven. The certainty of God’s created order demonstrates this concept of reunion. My story shows a boy’s progress through grief as he recognizes truths about death in God’s creation. I pray that God uses this book to comfort grieving children—and the adults who love them.