When my daughter was young, many connect the dots pictures were part of our story. She started with simple pictures that I could recognize the image immediately. The pictures became more difficult as she needed more of a challenge to the point that we were completing pictures with hundreds of dots. The fun of the connect the dot puzzle is the revelation of the image as you complete the puzzle.

Thinking about my students, I know that being able to connect the dots is just as important in their learning. I can teach individual pieces of information (dots) but if I do not offer a way for them to connect those dots, the learning is limited.

Many teachers solve this challenge through the use of essential questions. Essential questions are focus questions used to keep a lesson/unit focused on the goal of the content.

Others will use overarching goals as a way to focus their units and keep their content headed in the right direction for their students.

Some teachers will use projects that allow students the opportunity to bring together the content that they have learned- to connect their dots.

Whatever the strategy chosen, a good teacher knows the importance of bringing content together for their students.

Our faith works much the same way. We can spend our lives learning facts about who God is, but if we are unable to connect those dots to complete the picture of a Savior, we are missing the picture. There are many dots that we know to be truth.

• God loves each of us.
• God meets us where we are.
• God is consistent.
• God is faithful.
• God is the Creator of all.

I would encourage you to create a list of your “dots” that you know about who God is in your life, and then work to connect your dots. What does that final picture look like? What dots of truth play the largest part of your story? What dots would you like to increase their importance for you?