Grace or Works: Children's books

We borrowed a book from the library for a reading program Timothy is doing with his preschool. It was a picture book written by a Slovene author, called 'Pod Medvedovim Dežnikom' (Under Bear's Umbrella). Its ending was a surprise to me, but I guess in this culture which is so steeped in a works mentality, I shouldn't have been surprised.

The book is about a bear who receives a new umbrella for his birthday. On Saturday, when it rains, he meets a number of animals who are getting wet in the rain and invites them to join him under the umbrella. They have all met a fox beforehand, who refused to share her umbrella. The following day, the fox is bored and meets the animals again. Each of them doesn't want to stay with her because they are going to visit the bear. The fox lies down on the ground and sings sad sad songs all afternoon.

I turned the page, expecting the bear to show mercy and to go and talk to the fox and invite her in. (And of course the fox would learn her lesson). But no. The book ends there - with the fox singing sad sad songs by herself.

Unfortunately this is often how Slovene culture works. If you help someone or are kind to them, they will help you and be kind to you. If you offend someone, they won't give you a second chance or show you grace. You are cut off.

I am very thankful for God's amazing grace in that he didn't leave us singing sad songs by ourselves but he died for us when we didn't deserve it. I pray that I will forgive others as he forgave us. I am also very thankful for a Christianly influenced culture in most of our children's books where grace makes an appearance.