Acrostics In Training Kids

George et old gray rats at Peter's house yesterday! What? It may be bad grammar but it still spells "geography." This still rattles around in my mind every single time I spell that word.

It is an acrostic, a series of words in which (usually) the first letter of each word spells a word. For example: H. A. L. T. An effective acrostic which reminds us not to enter into serious discussion if we are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. This particular acrostic has the added benefit of reminding us what to do at those four times... HALT, don't do it. Wait until well-fed, relaxed, together and energetic to discuss difficult issues with primary people in your life.

The concept of using letters as memory tools is not a new one. In ancient times many Israelites memorized the entire 119th Psalm (the longest "chapter" in the Bible). How did they do it? They had help.

The 119th Psalm follows the Hebrew alphabet. The Psalm is constructed in octaves (sets of eight verses). The first word of each of the first eight verses (first octave) begins with the letter Aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The first word of each of the next eight verses (9-18) begin with the Hebrew letter Beth, and so on through the last letter Tav.

One hundred seventy-six verses, twenty-two sets of eight, all arranged in acrostic type sequence (not a true acrostic, but a blend of acrostic and alliteration). The point is that acrostic construction is far easier far the average person to memorize.

Practical Plan: When getting the kids to memorize a sequence of important things, have fun creating acrostics! For instance, as I leave my home each morning, I say to myself, "CCCSP." What? CCC (Remember the Conservation Control program of the 1930s?) and CSP (Colorado State Patrol). But what does that mean? Nothing, to anyone but me. It means, "Ray, as you step out the door, are you remembering to get your Cell phone, Computer, Coffee, Sunglasses and Planner?" ("Bible" you say? That's on my computer or in my computer bag.)

The goal is to have fun as a family making up usable, practical and spiritual acrostics for daily living or long term Bible memory. Let's try some.