Words from the Heart

Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved passages in the Bible, offering a beautiful picture of God as our loving Shepherd who guides us, cares for us, and stays close to us. Children may not understand every word or image in Psalm 23, but they can begin to understand its most important truth: God loves them, takes care of them, and is always with them. Teaching Psalm 23 doesn't have to mean sitting down for a formal Bible lesson. Through simple conversations, repetition, stories, prayer, and everyday moments, you can help your child understand what it means to have the Lord as their Shepherd. Here are a few simple ways to begin. 1. Help Your Child Understand What a Shepherd Is Before teaching the words of Psalm 23, explain what a shepherd actually does. A shepherd leads his sheep to food and water, protects them from danger, searches for them when they wander away, and stays close to them. For a young child, you might simply say: “A shepherd takes care of his sheep. He leads them, protects them, and stays with them. The Bible tells us that God is like a shepherd to us. We are His sheep, and He loves and cares for us.” If your child has a toy sheep or stuffed lamb, use it to make the idea more tangible. Ask what the little lamb might need from its shepherd—food, water, protection, help finding its way, or somewhere safe to sleep. If you don't already have a little lamb to use, our Iam the Lamb® Lovey and Iam the Lamb® Plush Lamb were created to give children their own little lamb to hold and care for as they learn what it means to be one of the Good Shepherd's sheep. You can use your child's lamb during these conversations, while reading Psalm 23 together, or as a comforting reminder that just as they care for their little lamb, their Good Shepherd cares for them.  Then connect it to the opening words of Psalm 23:  “The Lord is my shepherd.” (Psalm 23:1) This is the central truth you want your child to understand: God is their Shepherd, and they can trust Him to care for them. 2. Teach Psalm 23 a Little at a Time Psalm 23 is short enough for children to eventually memorize, but there's no need to teach the entire passage at once. Start with: “The Lord is my shepherd.” Repeat it during something you already do each day—at breakfast, in the car, before nap time, or at bedtime. Once those words become familiar, gradually add more of the verse. Don't worry about perfect memorization. The goal isn't simply for your child to recite Psalm 23. It's for the words to become familiar and for your child to begin understanding the truth behind them. Even a toddler who can finish the word “shepherd” when you begin the verse is taking a meaningful first step toward writing God's Word on their heart. 3. Explain the Verses in Words They Understand As you learn the Psalm together, pause to explain its imagery in simple language. “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”“God knows what we need. Just like a shepherd brings his sheep somewhere safe to rest, God takes care of us.” “He leads me beside still waters.”“Sheep need water, and their shepherd leads them to a safe place to drink. God knows what we need too, and we can trust Him to lead us.” “He restores my soul.”“God comforts us and helps us when we're sad, tired, or afraid.” “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”“Sometimes things feel scary or hard, but we never have to go through them alone. God is always with us.” Keep returning to the simple message woven throughout the Psalm: God provides for us, guides us, comforts us, and stays with us. 4. Look for Psalm 23 in Everyday Life Help your child connect Scripture to things they can actually see and experience. When you pass a grassy field, you might say, “That reminds me of the green pastures in Psalm 23. Who takes the sheep there?” When your child feels afraid, remind them of the words, “You are with me.” At dinner, talk about how God provides what your family needs. When your child needs comfort, remind them that their Shepherd stays close. These don't need to become formal lessons. Small conversations throughout ordinary life can help your child discover that the God they learn about in Scripture is the same God who is present in their everyday life. 5. Bring Psalm 23 to Life Through Stories and Pictures Young children often understand an idea more easily when they can see it represented in a story. As you read books about shepherds and sheep, talk about what the shepherd is doing. Is he leading the sheep? Protecting them? Bringing them somewhere safe? Staying close when the path becomes difficult? Then connect it back to Scripture: “That's what Psalm 23 tells us about God. He is our Shepherd, and He takes care of us.” This is why we created Iam the Lamb and The Good Shepherd – A Psalm 23 Book. The story allows children to experience Psalm 23 from the perspective of a little lamb being cared for by the Good Shepherd, helping the imagery of the Psalm become tangible and personal. 6. Make Psalm 23 Part of Bedtime Bedtime is a natural opportunity to make Scripture part of your child's routine. You might read a few verses, recite part of the Psalm together, or use one verse as the focus of your bedtime prayer. For example: “Thank You, God, for being our Shepherd. Thank You for taking care of us today. Help us remember that You are with us while we sleep. Amen.” If your child is afraid of the dark, has a bad dream, or needs reassurance, remind them of the words “You are with me.” It doesn't need to be long or elaborate. A few quiet minutes spent reading, repeating, or praying Scripture can help God's Word become a familiar and peaceful part of your child's day. Planting God's Word in Little Hearts You don't have to teach Psalm 23 perfectly or all at once. Start small. Repeat it often. Talk about it when opportunities naturally arise, and let your child's understanding grow alongside them. The words they begin learning today may become the words they return to for comfort and reassurance throughout their lives. If you're looking for a way to help bring Psalm 23 to life for your child, Iam the Lamb and The Good Shepherd – A Psalm 23 Book follows a little lamb as he learns to trust, follow, and find comfort in the care of the Good Shepherd.

Bedtime is one of the sweetest opportunities to intentionally bring God’s Word into your child’s everyday life. After the busyness of the day has slowed and the lights are dim, even a few quiet minutes together can become a meaningful rhythm your child carries with them as they grow. And a Christ-centered bedtime routine doesn’t need to be long or complicated. You don’t need an elaborate devotional or another checklist to complete. For toddlers and young children, simple and consistent is often best. A short routine of Scripture, prayer, and reassurance can help end the day by reminding your child of a few important truths: God loves them, God cares for them, and God is always with them. Here is a simple Christ-centered bedtime routine you can adapt for your own family. 1. Slow Down Together Begin by creating a clear transition between the activity of the day and bedtime. Dim the lights, put away stimulating toys, and spend a few quiet minutes together. This might happen while your child changes into pajamas, brushes their teeth, or snuggles with you in a rocking chair. It doesn’t have to be perfectly peaceful every night. Some nights will involve overtired toddlers, missing stuffed animals, and repeated requests for water. What matters most is creating a familiar rhythm that signals, “The day is ending, and we are safe and together.” 2. Read Something That Points Them to God Reading together is already part of many families’ bedtime routines, which makes it an easy place to intentionally incorporate faith. You might read a short passage from a children’s Bible, a few verses of Scripture, or a Christian children’s book. For young children, stories and illustrations can be especially helpful because they make biblical truths easier to understand. Instead of trying to fit an entire Bible lesson into bedtime, focus on one simple truth your child can take with them as they fall asleep. It might be: God made you.Jesus loves you.God hears you when you pray.God takes care of you.God is with you even when you are afraid. One of our favorite Scriptures for bedtime is Psalm 23 because it gives children such a beautiful picture of God’s care. Iam the Lamb and The Good Shepherd – A Psalm 23 Book was created with this in mind. Told from the perspective of a little lamb following the Good Shepherd (Jesus), the story helps young children understand the comfort, protection, and guidance found throughout Psalm 23. Whether you read directly from Scripture or use a story to help bring it to life, keep this part of bedtime simple and enjoyable. 3. Learn One Short Scripture Together Bedtime can also be an easy opportunity for Scripture memorization—but it doesn’t need to feel like memorization practice. Choose one short verse or phrase and repeat it together each night. For example: “The Lord is my shepherd.” — Psalm 23:1 Once your child knows those words, add a little more. Over time, you may be surprised by how much Scripture they learn simply through repetition. You can also choose verses based on what your child is experiencing. If they are going through a season of fear, for example, you might repeat: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” — Psalm 56:3 For very young children, even learning a few words matters. Scripture doesn’t need to be perfectly recited to begin becoming familiar. 4. Pray About Their Day Prayer is a beautiful way to help children understand that they can talk to God about ordinary life. Keep it simple. Thank God for something good that happened that day. Pray about something that was difficult. Pray for family members or friends. Ask God to help your child as they sleep and prepare for another day. You can also invite your child to participate. Ask: “What do you want to thank God for today?” or: “Is there anything you want us to ask God for?” A toddler’s answers may be wonderfully simple. Follow their lead. The goal isn’t to teach them how to give a polished prayer. It’s to teach them that God wants to hear from them. 5. Remind Them Who Is With Them Nighttime fears are common for young children. Darkness, strange noises, bad dreams, or simply being separated from Mom and Dad can suddenly feel much bigger once the lights go out. This is another reason Psalm 23 can be so meaningful at bedtime. David writes: “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” — Psalm 23:4 When your child feels afraid, you can remind them that they are not alone. You might say: “Mommy and Daddy love you, and God is with you all night long. The Good Shepherd never leaves His sheep.” A physical reminder can sometimes help make that abstract truth more understandable for a young child. The Iam the Lamb® Lovey and Iam the Lamb® Plush Lamb can give your child a little lamb to hold while remembering that they, too, are loved and cared for by the Good Shepherd. The Iam the Lamb® Nightlight can offer another gentle reminder at bedtime. As you turn it on each night, you might say something simple like, “Even when it’s dark, your Good Shepherd is still with you.” Over time, turning on the little lamb’s light can become part of the bedtime rhythm itself—a familiar cue to settle in, say your prayers, and remember that God is near. Together with Iam the Lamb and The Good Shepherd – A Psalm 23 Book, these can be used to create a simple Psalm 23 bedtime routine: read about the Good Shepherd, hold your little lamb, turn on its light, and end the day remembering that He is with you. 6. End With the Same Simple Blessing Consider ending bedtime with the same words each night. It could be a Bible verse, a short prayer, or a blessing you speak over your child. For example: “May you always know how deeply God loves you. May you remember that He is with you wherever you go, and may you rest tonight knowing that your Good Shepherd is watching over you.” Young children find comfort in repetition. Hearing the same words night after night can create a familiar ending to the day while continually reinforcing the truths you want planted in their hearts. Keep It Simple Your Christ-centered bedtime routine doesn’t need to include every one of these ideas every night. Some nights you might read a Bible story, pray together, and spend fifteen quiet minutes talking. Other nights, bedtime may consist of one verse and a thirty-second prayer before turning out the light. Consistency matters more than complexity. The goal isn’t to create the perfect Christian bedtime routine. It’s to create small, ordinary opportunities for your child to encounter God’s Word and learn that He is part of everyday life. Years from now, your child may not remember every bedtime story you read or every prayer you prayed together. But our hope is that the truths repeated during those quiet moments become deeply familiar: God loves me. God cares for me. God is with me. And I can trust Him.

One of my favorite conversations in the Bible happens after Jesus has risen from the dead. Peter had made a terrible mistake. Just a few days before, he had denied even knowing Jesus—not once, but three times. Can you imagine how Peter must have felt? Ashamed. Discouraged. Wondering if he had ruined everything. But Jesus wasn't finished with Peter. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to some of His disciples while they were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. They had fished all night without catching anything. Then a man standing on the shore called out and told them to throw their net on the other side of the boat. Suddenly, their net was overflowing with fish. John realized who it was. "It's the Lord!" Peter didn't wait for the boat. He jumped into the water and swam to Jesus. When the disciples reached the shore, Jesus already had breakfast waiting for them. I love that. Before Jesus said anything about Peter's failure, He simply invited him to sit down and eat. After breakfast, Jesus asked Peter a question. "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." Jesus replied, "Feed My lambs." Then Jesus asked him again. "Do you love Me?" Again Peter answered, "Yes, Lord." Jesus said, "Take care of My sheep." A third time Jesus asked, "Do you love Me?" Peter was hurt that Jesus asked him a third time, but he answered, "Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You." And once again Jesus replied, "Feed My sheep." (John 21:15–17) I've often thought about why Jesus asked Peter three times. Peter had denied Him three times. Jesus wasn't trying to make Peter feel guilty. He was lovingly restoring him. Instead of leaving Peter in his failure, Jesus reminded him that he still had a purpose. That gives me so much hope. Because we've all failed. We've all said things we wish we could take back, made poor decisions, or missed opportunities to trust God. But our failures don't have the final word. Jesus does. One part of this story especially touches my heart. Jesus says, "Feed My lambs." Lambs are the youngest and most vulnerable members of the flock. They need someone to guide them, protect them, and help them grow. Isn't that exactly what we're called to do with the children God has placed in our lives? Every Bible story we read together... Every prayer before bed... Every conversation about God's love... Every seed of truth we plant... We're helping feed His little lambs. That has always been the heart behind Iam The Lamb. Our books and products aren't just about creating sweet family memories—although I hope they do. They're about helping children know Jesus, trust Him, and follow Him for the rest of their lives. One of the most beautiful truths in all of Scripture is that Jesus is both the Lamb of God, who gave His life for us, and the Good Shepherd, who lovingly leads us every day. Only Jesus could be both. Today, His question to Peter is still a question for each of us. "Do you love Me?" If our answer is yes, then one of the greatest privileges we have is helping feed His lambs. Because you never know how one bedtime story, one prayer, or one simple conversation about Jesus might shape a child's heart for eternity.