Join a joyful, faith-filled adventure about God’s creativity and diverse design in this reading plan based on Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit. While getting ready to celebrate Pentecost, Josey spends a wonderful day with her dad. Along the way, she wonders why people are so different from one another and learns that our differences are part of God’s wonderfully creative plan for the world.
InterVarsity Press
Day 1
Scriptures: Psalms 139:13, Jeremiah 1:5
Created with Care and Purpose
Josey Johnson’s hair is a wonderful adventure—it’s different all the time!
Some days it’s a ponytail, or a curly afro, or pigtails
And some days, Josey’s hair has a mind of its own!
In Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit, Josey wonders why her hair is different from the other girls at school. As she talks with her dad at the hair salon, she learns that her hair is part of what makes her special. God created each one of us with our own special features that make us unique. No two people are exactly the same. Whether it’s your loud laugh, the freckles on your nose, or your love of animals—everything about you was created with purpose and love.
In the same way that every piece in a puzzle has its own special place, so do you have your own special place in God’s big, beautiful world.
What makes you feel different from those around you?
How do you think God views that thing that makes you feel different?
Prayer:
“Dear God, thank you for making me special. Thank you for creating me exactly as you wanted me to be. Help me to love the way you made me. Amen.”
Activity:
Self-Portrait
Draw a picture of yourself! Around your picture, write or draw things that make you unique and special. Share your portrait with your family and tell them why you’re thankful for how God made you.
Day 2
Scripture: Ephesians 2:10
Delightful Differences
“But Dad,” Josey paused, “why did God make us different?”
Dad smiled, “We’re all different because God is creative. Each one of us is God’s unique work of art.”
In Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit, Dad explains to Josey that God loves variety and didn’t want everyone to be the same. He created us with different gifts, different backgrounds, and different ways of seeing the world.
Imagine you’re an artist with the most amazing set of crayons in the world. Some crayons are extra-long, some are medium, some are tiny. Some colors are bright and sparkly, while others are soft and sweet. Each crayon is special, and when you draw, every single one adds to a beautiful picture.
That’s exactly how God sees you and all the people in the world. God’s work of art wouldn’t be complete without every single crayon, and he has a never-ending, giant crayon box containing more amazing colors than you can even imagine!
Do you see God’s beautiful work of art in the people around you? What about in those you don’t get along with? Can you see God’s work of art in them, even when they are so different from you?
Prayer:
“Dear God, thank you for making each of us unique and special. Help us to see the beauty in how different we are, and help us love each other just like you love us. Teach us to welcome everyone into your family with open hearts and kind smiles.”
Activity:
Crayon Sort
Get a box of crayons and separate them into two piles—the crayons you like the best and the ones that maybe aren’t your favorite. Next, put away all the crayons you like the best, and draw a picture with ONLY your least favorite crayons. Then, pick three positive words you can say about your work of art and write them on the picture. Put the picture up on the wall to remind yourself that ALL people are part of God’s creative design.
Day 3
Scripture: John 14:26
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
In the story Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit, Josey wonders about the day they are celebrating.
Next, Josey and Dad headed out to find a dress. As they looked around, Josey asked, “What is Pentecost?”
“After Jesus rose from the dead, he told all his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit. So they all got together to pray and to wait.”
Have you ever heard of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is often compared to the wind—you can’t see it, but you can feel it and see how it affects everything around it. The Holy Spirit helps us, guides us, and comforts us. Jesus promised us this helper in John 14:26: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
The Holy Spirit is with you all the time, helping you make good choices, bringing you comfort when you’re sad, and reminding you of God’s love.
How does it make you feel to know that God has sent you this special helper? How do you think the Holy Spirit communicates with you?
Prayer:
“Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for being my helper. Please guide me to make good choices and help me feel God’s love. Teach me to listen to your gentle voice.”
Activity:
“Wind Chimes” Craft
- Make simple wind chimes using string, a paper cup, and items like buttons or beads.
- When the wind blows and makes sounds with your chimes, remember that, like the wind, we can’t see the Holy Spirit, but we can feel his work in our lives.
- Hang your wind chimes somewhere you’ll hear them often.
Day 4
Scripture: Galatians 3:28
The Beautiful Church Family
Dad smiled. “Josey, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is for all people, no matter what language they speak, the color of their skin, or the curl of their hair. That’s what we celebrate on Pentecost!
The next morning at church, Josey looked around and realized that her church was like Pentecost—it had all different kinds of people. And it was all so beautiful!
In this story, Josey looks around and notices that her church is filled with many different people. She sees this unique group of people coming together to worship, and she thinks it is beautiful. And we know from the Bible that God thinks that is beautiful, too! In the church, we are unified by our love of Jesus, and that makes us family, even if we look very different from one another or even speak different languages! Galatians 3:28 tells us that we are “all one in Christ Jesus.”
Josey loves being a part of a church that celebrates together like family. The church is at its best when the people in it take care of each other like a family does. Do you think of your church as a family? What would make it feel more like family to you?
Prayer:
“Dear God, thank you for filling your family with all kinds of wonderful people. Teach me to see the beauty in each unique person and help me to be a part of creating a beautiful church family.”
Activity:
God’s Beautiful Family
- Cut out paper doll chains from folded paper.
- Add a variety of colors, clothes, and personalities to your paper chain.
- Label your chain “God’s Family” and hang it in your room.