KNIGHTING – A NOBLE PLAN

Most summers, we make the trek to a Renaissance Faire (yes, these “faires” are usually spelled with an “e”). It’s often a journey into the imagination of books like The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia, with costumes both regal and outrageous – where kings and queens hold court, and magicians work their slight of hand.

Several years ago, on kids’ day, the Queen had activities for the young lads and lasses, and if they accomplished them all, she would declare each one a knight or a lady of her court. My son, then seven, took all of this very seriously, and went about the faire seeking to fulfill all the queen’s quests and in the end, kneeled to be knighted. He was so proud!



Children seem to have an innate understanding of what is knightly and what is not. Ever since his “knighting,” all we have had to do is ask, “is that something a noble knight would do?” Invariably, the answer is no, and we can then discuss biblical principles of right and wrong.

I know some would rather ask, “is that what a Christian would do?” but somehow, there seems to be a difference in how he receives the rebuke. It may just be my son and how he takes correction, but deep down inside, even if children do not have the biblical background, they knows how a knight or lady should behave.

The goal is to mold young people into Christlike sons and daughters, and to find ways to introduce and reinforce biblical, noble living, in their lives. Knighting has certainly been a noble plan that has worked for us.