Sacred Story time: Behind the Scenes
Creating the Sacred Storytime prompts is one of my very favorite parts of what I’ve been doing. They do take a lot of time, though, so last month I shared in my Instagram stories a bit about the process and the heart behind them. In case you missed it, here’s a look at how they come together and why I love making them.
First, I pull the next section of text from Project Gutenberg, a free e-book site that houses many beloved classics in the public domain. Right now, we’re making our way through Winnie-the-Pooh (for reasons I’ll share another time!). I read through the passage carefully and then create three prompts and a prayer to go along with it.
The first prompt is what I call the Noticing Prompt. This is at the heart of what I mean when I talk about using children’s stories for contemplative play. It’s the simple act of reading a sweet story and letting it stir something inside us. The prompts are there to guide you, but honestly, you can do this without them too! My hope is that as you read (or listen, through the Instagram reels), you’ll pause to notice what’s happening in your heart. Afterward, take a moment to offer that noticing to God in prayer. That prayer piece is essential; it shifts our focus from ourselves back to Him. I usually provide a simple prayer you can use, or you’re always welcome to pray your own.
The second and third prompts are a bit more playful. These are things you can do on your own, with a friend, or with a child—something lighthearted, creative, and intentional. Even when they seem silly, they often spark meaningful reflection too.
And then comes the prayer, which may look like an afterthought, but really it’s the center of the whole practice. Reflection is valuable, but the goal isn’t just self-awareness. It’s connection with God. The prayer is our chance to lift up our hearts, remember who He is, and invite His help and presence into what we’ve noticed.
Once the prompts and prayer are finished, I choose an image from the original book to turn into a coloring page (always available as a free PDF in the blog post). Then, I paint a watercolor version of the same page. That watercolor becomes the backdrop for the Instagram reel. I bring it into Canva to add text, then into LumaFusion where I record the voiceover. My goal is always for the reels to feel like you’re being read to as a child—gentle, cozy, and full of wonder.
It’s a fair amount of work, but I truly love it. And I’m dreaming bigger: eventually, I’d love to gather a whole story, with prompts, prayers, and coloring pages, into a printed booklet you can hold in your hands. Something you could take with you, write in, color in, and share with a child or a friend.
Thank you so much for being part of this journey with me. It means the world.