When Nature Stories Plant Seeds Of Compromise.

IT IS OLD SO IT MUST BE GOOD

Well I am finding that is not necessarily true. Old does not equal safe it just means old. The same mind set that today is a threat to biblical thinking originated in the garden and has remained in all the earth and will until Christ’s return…ecclesiastes reminds me that there truly is nothing new under the sun. So though I really enjoy books and I love to collect books, especially old books. I must take care with what old books I choose. This passion that allows for collection of some literature recommended as good for children to read must be tempered with discretion.

Thornton Burgess is such an author recommended as an old collection of rich childrens stories to learn from especially in the science through literature approach. I was only considering him (Burgess) for an enjoyable, wholesome read though I have never read any book he has written and only flip through to get a sense of what would be the story. So when I saw the title ”Old Mother West Wind” a flag went up but I thought fantasy that is okay right? So I happened to find a free Mother West Wind “How” Stories gave it to my daughter who is 8 to read. I reassured myself that the author has good reviews so I trusted the stories must be good. I am just over reacting. Then the first thing that my husband and I read is on the third page of this 1916 version and it says;

                                                                                          THORNTON BURGESS DEDICATION 

To the cause of conservation of wild life and to increase of love for our little friends of the green forest and the green meadows through awakened interest in them and a better understanding of their value to us as faithful workers in carrying out the plans of wise Old Mother Nature, this little book is dedicated.

I gloss over this thinking surely there are some redeeming qualities to these stories. My daughter likes to read at bedtime and that evening I gave her the book later she came out and said, Mom I do not want to read this book. She told me how Mother Nature sounded like God in the story and she did not like that. Here is the part she read to me that caused her to reject the book,

How Old Mr. Tree Toad Climbed pg. 193

“Once on a time,” he began, “when Old Mother Nature made the first land and the first trees and plants, the Toads and the Frogs were the first to leave the water to see what dry land was like. 

When exalting nature in Gods place starts with these little childhood stories does it end there closing the book or in this case could it not end until my daughter is a member of green peace? More importantly do I want to send a message that I encourage my daughter, who loves animals, that this is my wish for her by allowing her these types of books. No, I want all my children vigilant not carried around by the ebb and flow of the masses. So now I am as guilty as  Ballam who was corrected by a donkey (now there’s a talking animal story!) so I was forced to look at my choices by my own daughter. Out of the mouths of babes.

So just for the sake of a good story is it okay to validate or reason compromise? By doing so we plant the seeds of this in our children early. My daughter knew what she was reading then. She knew it gave credit to something else (Mother Nature) when infact it was what God and only God had done. I will either defend the story and minimize her conviction through reason or I will uphold Gods truth. I will be likeminded with her, that this story is untruth. We must confront false testimony! With the uncompromising truth of God hidden in her heart (I hide your word in my heart that I might not sin against thee)that was brought to her mind and that gave her discernment since I failed her.Thank the Lord He is faithful when I fail.

Thornton Burgess  not reinforcing a biblical message. Use caution.

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