by Shannon Popkin | Dec 5, 2012 | Distraction, Holidays, Jesus, Kids' Perspective, Story, Wisdom
After my student played “Away in a Manger” for me on the piano, she asked, “What’s a manger?”I said, “Oh! It’s a feeding trough for animals. Remember how Mary and Joseph had to stay in a stable with animals, the night Jesus...
by Shannon Popkin | Oct 12, 2012 | Faith, Father, Speaking, Story
There’s a story Jesus told about two brothers–one who disgraced his Father by running off with an early inheritance, and the other, who stayed behind dutifully slaving away, but was just as distant from his Father’s heart. The story is about both...
by Shannon Popkin | Oct 9, 2012 | Jesus, Mistakes, Parenting, Story, Wisdom
By: Shannon PopkinThis morning, when I went to wash out Cole’s thermos, I found that it was full. He hadn’t even eaten the healthy meat-and-potatoes lunch I packed yesterday, and now it had to be thrown out.So I lectured him about the price of beef these...
by Shannon Popkin | Jan 30, 2012 | Story, Writing
When I was a summer camp counselor, our director kept this yellow playground ball in the room where the counselors met–it was a therapy ball of sorts. You could call for the Yellow Ball when you had a story to share or just wanted to rant for a while....
by Shannon Popkin | Aug 4, 2011 | Speaking, Story
I first tested my storytelling skills in the second grade, when I convinced a group of children that they’d better leave our playground ‘tree fort’ alone, or the Martians in the woods might carry them off. The calls from parents of frightened children caused my...