By Leslee Stewart

Recently, I’ve been looking for some resources to help make conversations about God a little more understandable for my boys, ages 5 and 3. One of the books I found is 3 in 1: A Picture of God by Joanne Marxhausen.

This book was originally published in the mid-70s. In fact, growing up, I can remember my parents reading this book to my sister and me. The book uses an apple and its peel, flesh and core to demonstrate the three parts of God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

When I was home over Christmas, I found my parents old copy and “permanently borrowed” it so I could begin reading it with my boys.

I just love this book. Using simple pictures and words, it tells how all three parts of the apple are apple. The peel is apple. The flesh is apple. The core is apple. They are not three apples. Just one apple.

All three persons of the one true God are the same way. God the Father is God. God the Son is God. God the Holy Spirit is God. They are not three gods. They are one God.

The book goes on to share how all three parts of the apple have different purposes. The same is true with the three parts of God.

In the short time I’ve had the book, I’ve fallen in love all over again with the way it beautifully, yet simply illustrates who God is. I believe it is going to be a great conversation starter with my kids and would be a wonderful gift for any young person in your life.

You can purchase 3 in 1: A Picture of God from Amazon.com.

Leslee Stewart oversees communications for GFC Beautiful. She is a wife,
stay-at-home mom of two boys and former communications executive. She openly admits she owns too many throw pillows, loves junky old furniture and can sing all the parts of Bohemian Rhapsody.