You have to be brave
The iPad on the garden table is reflecting the late afternoon sunrays. Colourful animated characters are telling stories from the old testament. The videos can be about everything that has to do with the faith. Why Christmas is a pagan holiday or why you should only date someone you’d want to marry. Tonight, the colourful video is about being brave and proclaiming your faith to your friends.
”Do you think it can be hard to tell people that you don’t celebrate birthdays or Christmas?”, Pavia asks his daughters Nellie and Nugga.
“No, they know what we believe in.”, says Nugga and takes a sip of her lemonade.
It’s the weekly family night, where they gather and talk about different themes from the Bible. 3-year old Buster is playing in a hammock, among the large, dark fruit trees.
”Happy birhtday to yoooouuuuu”. The high-pitched sound of his voice floats through the garden. The rest of the family burst out laughing. Then they continue with tonight’s subject: Being brave enough to stand up to what you believe in.
”You have to be brave. You have to dare going against the flock. And not just get carried along with whatever everyone else is doing.”, says Jannie about the importance of standing up for faith.
But even if you’re completely sure in your beliefs, it can still be hard not to take part in the activities that other children are enjoying.
”I think Christmas sounds pretty nice. But I’ve never tried it, so it’s not like I miss it. It can be a bit hard, when the others are making Christmas cards or reading stories, and I can’t be there. They’re often doing cool things that I can’t take part in.”, says Nellie.