3 Wise Men: Faith Emotions And The Journey Of Trust
This year, we once again hosted our second annual 3 Wise Men event continuing conversations around mental health, faith, and healthy emotional expression. As with previous years, the goal of the event was not only to celebrate an important the importance of the birth of Christ, but also to create an environment where children could learn practical ways to understand and respond to their emotions through faith-centered activities.
After a worship session where we emphasized the importance of giving time to God, we began with the day’s activities. The first one being “Follow the S.T.A.R.,” a simple activity used to teach children how to Stop, Think, Ask, and Respond when facing different situations or emotions. Through this activity, children were encouraged to slow down and become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and reactions before responding impulsively. The goal was to give both children and parents a practical tool they could continue applying in everyday situations at home, school, and with others around them.
Another important activity was “Casting Your Cares.” During this activity, children were invited to write down worries, frustrations, sadness, or any emotions they may have been carrying and write them down on a paper heart. Those hearts were then placed onto a wooden cross as a symbol of trusting God with the things they cannot control. This served as a way to help children visualize what the phrase “leave it to God,” can look like. Afterward, parents replaced those hearts with encouraging messages reminding their children that they are loved, supported, and not alone in what they experience. This portion served as not only a bonding experience but another symbol of how parents need to be present to replace children’s worries and struggles with love and encouragement. This became one of the most meaningful moments of the event because it allowed both children and parents to openly express care, encouragement, and support toward one another. One of our goals is to emphasize the importance of a healthy and united family dynamic, and this activity served that purpose. It also showed how the intentional action of processing emotions is vital to avoid harboring negative emotions or thoughts in one’s mind and heart. ShineBright members and volunteers also presented the live nativity play featuring the story of the three Wise Men, Mary, and Jesus. This has become a staple to our three Wise Men events and serves to remind families of the true reason behind the season. Just as the 3 Wise Men followed the star with trust and direction, children were encouraged to trust God as they face challenges, emotions, and different situations in life.
This year, the event also included an even larger toy giveaway thanks to the generosity and donations received from supporters and community members. Being able to provide more toys to children and families made the event especially meaningful and helped create moments of joy and excitement for many of the children attending.
This event was about much more than activities or performances. It was about creating opportunities for families to grow together, encourage one another, and continue learning how faith and mental health can work together in practical and meaningful ways.
