The Warren & the World Vol 5, Issue 20

The Warren & the World is Story Warren’s weekly newsletter, providing a round-up of our favorite things from around the web as well as a review of what was on our site over the past week. We’re glad you’re here!

Around the Web

Dear Parents With Young Children in Church

Jamie Bruesehoff has some words for parents whose kids are making noise in church.

You are doing something really, really important. I know it’s not easy. I see you with your arms overflowing, and I know you came to church already tired. Parenting is tiring. Really tiring.
I watch you bounce and sway trying to keep the baby quiet, juggling the infant car seat and the diaper bag as you find a seat. I see you wince as your child cries. I see you anxiously pull things out of your bag of tricks to try to quiet them.
And I see you with your toddler and your preschooler. I watch you cringe when your little girl asks an innocent question in a voice that might not be an inside voice let alone a church whisper. I hear the exasperation in your voice as you beg your child to just sit, to be quiet as you feel everyone’s eyes on you. Not everyone is looking, but I know it feels that way.

Unique and Creative Non-Boring Poetry Books That Will Make You Love Poetry

Poetry can be hard to figure out sometimes. Erica at What Do We Do All Day has a great list of books to help introduce your family to poetry.

Whenever I talk about poetry I hear a handful of comments along the lines of “I can’t get into poetry,” “I don’t understand poetry,” “I don’t know how to read poetry,” or the perennial, “Poetry is boring!” In honor of National Poetry Month I thought it fitting I put together a list of poetry books that will make you (and everyone in your family) love reading poems. I promise these are all unique, non-boring poetry books!

How Communal Singing Disappeared From American Life

This is a throwback piece from The Atlantic which highlights the value of communal singing in American culture. Christians sing in church, but in the rest of our society, we don’t sing together. Perhaps we are the people who can help with that.

With the crack of baseball bats across the land, the singing season for Americans is about to begin. At ballparks from Saint Louis to San Diego, people will stand during the seventh-inning stretch and belt “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” They will feel the pleasure of singing a bouncy, easy song with thousands of other fans. They will be cheered by the sunny lyrics, even if their team is down. They will lose themselves in a bond stretching around the stadium, a few minutes of carefree unity.
And when the season’s over, that’ll be it until next spring.
Adults in America don’t sing communally.

What Happens to Our Pets When They Die?

Garrett Kell writes at The Gospel Coalition exploring how to talk with kids about the loss of a pet.

My wife and I were recently awakened by the tears of one of our children. They’d found our dog, Nellie, dead on the floor.
Nellie was a cross-eyed Chihuahua who had brought our family so much joy. She was about as good a dog as a Chihuahua can be.
As the tears flowed, so did the questions.

Around the Warren

Love Like Birch Trees

James Witmer examines what birch trees can teach us about love.

My wife loves plants. I love beautiful places that encourage a restful heart. The result is that I have learned to love gardening and the general niftyness of the plant world.
Caring for plants can also open our eyes to larger truths. For example: After thinking over the relationships I’ve been blessed with, I’ve concluded that people are what gardeners call “part-shade/part-sun” plants.

A Few Thoughts About Thoughts To Make Your Heart Sing That Might Cause Hearty Singing in Your Thoughts

S.D. Smith takes a look at Sally Lloyd Jones’ book, Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing.

It delights me to think that my daughter will be spending time with her attention focused on Sally Lloyd-Jones’ book, Thoughts To Make Your Heart Sing. Why? I’ll tell you why. I’m getting ready to tell you why in just a minute. First, there needs to be a dramatic barrier to overcome. Sally Lloyd-Jones has been impacting my family through her wonderful writing for quite a while now. We are big fans. But I was not so sure at first.
<Cue scary music and archival footage in black and white of people looking serious, concerned, and even yet still more seriouser and concerneder.>