I’d encourage the question asker to try different pronouns for God! Because despite what explanations you give, as long as you keep saying “he/him,” kiddos will gender God as male.
Reading the children’s books “Mother God” or “Big Momma Makes the World” or “When God Was A Little Girl” are great ways to get used to saying “She” for God.
Other people are more comfortable to just to switch to saying “God” and “Godself” in lieu of he/him.
What if your spouse is very uncomfortable with using anything other than male pronouns for God?? 😬 We have three boys, 5 and under, and it's so hard and challenging to have one affirming parent and one non-affirming when it comes to teaching our children 🫠
I think it's hard whenever co-parents feel strongly but differently about faith things for their kids. The conversation between you both likely needs to include seeking to understand their discomfort, (hopefully) being understood as far as why this matters to you... all that good 'try to be a team' stuff.
Sometimes you can just try out a compromise for a season and then re-evaluate. (i.e. "If I use she/they/just "God" with the kids, will you support me by not correcting it? We can just see how it lands for them?")
Also, the idea of God's pronouns being more than "he" is, in my opinion, only very loosely related to being affirming. It's just true that God isn't male and that gendered language for God is metaphor. But I know that the conversation can be challenging, for sure.
This is a great explanation. I like the progression as the child's age is changing. Great perspective. Also good thought for me too. I have been praying to my Heavenly Father for so many years it hard to change. Although I understand God is not male.
And personally, I think it is a “yes and” kind of thing. We get to use all of the different images of God Scripture offers us, and landing on heavenly father, especially because it’s very common, is not a bad thing at all!
I’d encourage the question asker to try different pronouns for God! Because despite what explanations you give, as long as you keep saying “he/him,” kiddos will gender God as male.
Reading the children’s books “Mother God” or “Big Momma Makes the World” or “When God Was A Little Girl” are great ways to get used to saying “She” for God.
Other people are more comfortable to just to switch to saying “God” and “Godself” in lieu of he/him.
The more you practice, the easier it gets!
What if your spouse is very uncomfortable with using anything other than male pronouns for God?? 😬 We have three boys, 5 and under, and it's so hard and challenging to have one affirming parent and one non-affirming when it comes to teaching our children 🫠
I think it's hard whenever co-parents feel strongly but differently about faith things for their kids. The conversation between you both likely needs to include seeking to understand their discomfort, (hopefully) being understood as far as why this matters to you... all that good 'try to be a team' stuff.
Sometimes you can just try out a compromise for a season and then re-evaluate. (i.e. "If I use she/they/just "God" with the kids, will you support me by not correcting it? We can just see how it lands for them?")
Also, the idea of God's pronouns being more than "he" is, in my opinion, only very loosely related to being affirming. It's just true that God isn't male and that gendered language for God is metaphor. But I know that the conversation can be challenging, for sure.
This is a great explanation. I like the progression as the child's age is changing. Great perspective. Also good thought for me too. I have been praying to my Heavenly Father for so many years it hard to change. Although I understand God is not male.
And personally, I think it is a “yes and” kind of thing. We get to use all of the different images of God Scripture offers us, and landing on heavenly father, especially because it’s very common, is not a bad thing at all!