We are a family that loves tradition. We take very seriously God’s call to remember, and traditions help us do just that. They are a sort of Sabbath for us, providing an opportunity to step back from our normal busy lives and celebrate what God has done for His people and for us specifically.
When our oldest was nearing a very significant birthday that would take him from one digit to two, we decided that we’d start a tradition of a little surprise getaway alone with Mom or Dad when each child turned 10. My husband took our son Evan, a big chocolate lover, to Hershey for his man weekend. Two years later, when our daughter Ashlyn turned 10, I decided to use the time to study God’s word together, choosing Esther as the perfect book to invite conversation about standing up for what is right, having courage despite fear, living wisely, and choosing to be a part of God’s Kingdom work.
I found a great book by Pam Gibbs, Esther: The Role of a Lifetime, published by Lifeway Press. But, it was written for older girls and included content way too grown up for my daughter. So, I put this six-lesson study together, basing it very closely on Gibbs’ well-organized and well-written text, but making it a workbook to be used by a mother or leader discipling a girl in the 9-14 age range.
While it could be completed various ways, I used it with my daughter over three days, completing one lesson together at every meal using the following schedule:
Day 1 dinner: Lesson 1
Day 2 breakfast: Lesson 2
Day 2 lunch: Lesson 3
Day 2 dinner: Lesson 4
Day 3 breakfast: Lesson 5
Day 3 lunch: Lesson 6
We retreated to a resort where we could sweeten our time with some pampering at a spa during the afternoon on Day 2. Not only was that super fun, but we were able to talk together about what it would have been like for Esther and the other young girls to have beauty treatments for a whole year. I also brought special matching necklaces made by my friend Rebekah at Compelled Designs that had the reference Esther 4:14 etched onto the back. I gave Ashlyn her necklace at the end of Lesson 6 when we talked about ebenezers and mementos to remember what God has done.
Since my daughter is currently Insta-obsessed, I jumped right in there with her, posting lots of pictures to Instagram during our time away. That led to a few requests for the study I used. So, here it is, available by clicking that little orange button below all these words, edited a little after our “trial run” for other moms to use with their daughters. Print out two copies, and take them to your local copy center and have them spiral bound (a fun and cheap way to make it look really good for your time together). Review it yourself before you guide your daughter through it, but save writing in your copy until you can do it together.
May God use this small thing in mighty ways, binding your hearts together as you press on to bring Him glory, as I just learned in Esther He is more than able to do.