Christ Jesus taught us that we are all the children of God. He knew that we may not see that fact

so easily. So, he taught us some steps to take that would lead us to behave as the children God

created. We might call these our “stair steps to heaven,” because each step takes us up higher

and closer to an understanding of our heavenly home.

These steps have another name: the Beatitudes. You can read the Beatitudes in the book of

Matthew from the Bible.  They are the very first words of an important talk given by Jesus to his

followers which is called the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus was not the kind of person who just talked about living a good and pure life.  He proved that

he was willing to do exactly what he asked of others. He gave us the example to follow. We can

read about his life in the Bible.

The Beatitudes are an easy way to remember the important points that Jesus taught and lived.

But the words in the Bible are not always so easy for children to read and understand. Just for fun,

let’s learn a little about each Beatitude, along with some rhyming words that we can act out as we

take each “stair step.” These short phrases will help us recall what the Beatitudes mean and how

we can put them into practice in our daily lives. Here is the rhyme below, and you can click here

to go to a special version to print out.

One more point. You may have already been taught the Ten Commandments from the Bible.

The Commandments are important rules from God that teach us what to do or not do to. But the

Beatitudes are all about “feelings” – you might call them “attitudes to be.” So when you act out

the rhyme below, really put your feelings into it!  But when you make the Beatitudes part of your

real life, let those feelings become truthful and sincere.

The Beatitudes: Stair-steps to Heaven
A Rhyme and Pantomime

Step One....... Ask God’s help to get it done.

Step Two....... Cry boo hoo!

Step Three.... Get down on bended knee.

Step Four....... Hunger for goodness evermore.

Step Five....... Be kind to all alive.

Step Six...........Keep evil out of the mix

Step Seven.... Stop all fighting, child of heaven.

Step Eight...... Be brave if attacked by hate.

Step Nine....... With the prophets, stand in line.


The following summaries of the Beatitudes for young children are excerpted from my book

100 daily lessons in question and answer format for parents or Sunday School teachers to use

with their children and young teens. Each lesson discusses one theme or point for the day relating

to each of the Beatitudes, and is based on the teachings of Christian Science appropriate for

beginners.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

This means that we will be filled with great joy whenever we find that we need God’s help. When we

see that we are poor in spiritual things – such as pure thoughts, good ideas, a feeling of being loved

and wanted, or a sense of purpose in life – we have no place to turn except to God. God is the divine

Mind, and is rich in wisdom. Through our sincere prayers, we reach out of the darkness of our fears,

for the light of divine Mind. We will then be able to see that God has already provided us with what

we need. We just forgot He was there! Some people do not look to God for help until all else has

failed them. They suffer because they feel separated from God’s goodness. But we can all expect

much joy when we pick ourselves up and return to the open arms of our Father-Mother God. In this

home – the kingdom of heaven – we are greatly loved and showered with blessings. We no longer

feel poor in spirit.

The kingdom of heaven is a special place filled with the light of wisdom and Love, where all of God’s

spiritual children get along with each other in perfect harmony. There is no evil there, no sadness, or

sickness, or loneliness, or things to frighten us.  God rewards us with this kingdom, when we

prayerfully look to Him for all our needs.  We find that heaven is within our own thinking! It is right

here with us on earth, not a place far away in the sky. We can never be separated from the kingdom

of heaven, as long as we accept the ideas that God gives to us. This is the wonderful reward

promised to those who see they are “poor in spirit.”

Step One: Ask God’s help to get it done.

For our “Stair Steps to Heaven,” act out how you would turn to God and plead for His help. Maybe

you quietly pray or maybe you reach out with your hands and beg. But show you really feel it. This is

our first step to heaven, or harmony:

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

This means that we will be filled with great joy whenever we find ourselves sad. How can we be sad

and joyful at the same time? One reason is that in our sadness we might pray to God for comfort.

Whenever we turn to God for help, we can find the truth that sets us free – free from troubles and

worries and wrong thinking. If we are sad because we have lost a dear friend or relative, we learn

from God that He is the divine Life of everyone. He continues to care for them no matter where they

are. Sometimes, we are sad because we learn we have to give up a wrong way of acting or

thinking. But, we do not have to be sad for long. It is good when we finally separate ourselves from

the bad. We can be happy for the new way of life ahead of us, filled with more goodness and freedom.

If we are feeling sad and mournful, it is nice to have someone around to cheer us up and make us

feel better. Someone who does that is called a “comforter.” They bring us “comfort.” Being comforted

can make us feel strong enough to stop our mourning or self-pity, and to get on with living our life.

God is our Number One Comforter. When we are mourning, and turn to Him for comfort, He will lift us

up, and make us feel loved. If we are sad because of something we have done wrong, God will help

to separate us from the sin. This “comfort” from God is the reward for those who feel sorry for the

wrongs they have done. He sets us free, and we are ready to stick more closely to God in the future.

Step Two: Cry boo hoo!

For the second stair step to heaven, you can pretend to be really sad about something you are

mourning. Show how you might reach out for comfort. How would you comfort another who is sad?

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

This means that we will be filled with great joy whenever we are willing to do things God’s way,

instead of mortal mind’s way. God has gifted us with “dominion,” which is the ability to control our

thoughts and actions in a good way. For instance, we can choose to be kind and gentle, instead

of mean. We can be calm, instead of scared or excited. We can be willing to forgive wrongs done

to us, instead of wanting to fight back, and we must learn to control our tongue, so that we do not say

harsh or angry words. We can turn to God who is all-knowing, instead of thinking we always know

what is right, and that we must have things go our way. We must meekly pray to God daily, and ask

for His guidance. There is great power in being meek like this, but it is God’s power to give.

To “inherit” something is to be given a gift. Usually it is something that first belonged to our parents

or other relatives. God is your heavenly Father-Mother, and it is His joy to give you “the earth.” This

is another way of saying that those of us who are willing to be as meek as little children, and let God

be the Supreme Ruler in our lives, will be given the gift of self-control, or dominion, over our world,

or “earth.” Our world is made up of the thoughts and ideas that come to us. We can decide which

thoughts we will act out and which ones we will toss out! We should not let mortal mind push us

around!  This gift of self-control over our world of thought and action is the reward for being meek.

Step Three: Get down on bended knee.

For the third step to heaven, you can kneel down on one or both knees and bow your head before

God, showing that He is “King” and you are His willing servant; or perhaps you act as a soldier

awaiting the King’s instructions. You meekly listen for His commands and obey them with

confidence. You put God and His kingdom, including His “children,” your brothers and sisters,

before your own personal interests.  You do not run wild, but use self-control to be a good

representative of God, the Supreme Ruler.


“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they

shall be filled.”

This means that we will be filled with great joy whenever we find ourselves wanting to be good, do

good, and see good in the world, with as much feeling as someone who had not eaten in days

would desire some food, or someone dying of thirst would want a drink of water. It is such a strong

feeling, that we will do almost anything to see that it happens. “Righteousness” is the habit of

thinking and doing all that is right and good. This Beatitude does not say we will be blessed, or

happy, when we have become righteous, but that we are blessed because of our strong desire for

righteousness. That strong desire, which is as deep as someone starving for food and drink, will

force us to take action, and do what is necessary to see that we do what is right, and that others

are treated justly.

To “be filled” is to have a feeling of fullness, or to know for sure that you have everything you need.

For instance, after eating a really good meal, your tummy is no longer empty, but “full.” This

Beatitude suggests to us that if we continue to “hunger and thirst” for righteousness – all that is right,

and good, and just – we will be filled with the ability to do good. However, we do not get that good

feeling of fullness just so that we can sit back and enjoy our own personal comfort. No! Our

continued blessing comes from using what we have proven to be true in order to help others. This

is the reward of those who have such a deep desire to know and do good, they will make the effort

to do something about it, in order to save themselves and others from evil.

Step Four: Hunger for goodness evermore.

For the fourth step to heaven, act out what you might do if you were dying of thirst and starvation.

Would you just sit still and wish for food, or would you do something to get to a place with food and

drink? What would you do to get the attention of someone who could help to feed you? What would

you do after your tummy was full? Would you help to feed others who are starving, knowing how

badly you felt?


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