Tips to Try

Tips for The Pre-Teen Problem

This is a very short story, but, it is deeply nuanced and conveys a wide range of emotional content. Be sure to think about what is happening from the perspectives of each of the story’s participants.

Jesus:

How do I feel about going to Jerusalem, the big city?
What is my attitude toward the teachers in the temple?
Why are Mom and Dad so upset? Have I done something wrong?

The teachers:

How do I feel about this child who seems to know and understand as much or more than I do? Jealous? Envious? Intrigued?

Mary and Joseph:

Has your child ever gone off somewhere without your knowledge? How did you feel about that?
When you found your child again, you probably felt an odd mixture of emotions. What were they?

Use your own experiences as a parent (and as a teen or pre-teen) to add emotional depth to the story. By the way, how do you think Mary and Joseph felt when Jesus became obedient?

Don Falkos is the founder of Blessed by the Spoken Word, a ministry dedicated to telling the stories of the Bible and empowering others to do the same. www.blessedbythespokenword.com

Don’t forget to check out our ‘Story of the Month’ as well

Check out the past five months of stories and tips