Lessons from Sunday School.

Bonjour!

I know it's been a while since I have written.  The last two months have been packed with going out of town what seems like every other week.  Anyway, on my latest travel expedition I was sitting in an airport suddenly wishing I had my laptop, because I thought of the next thing I wanted to blog about.  Though I did not have a laptop, thankfully I did have a journal so I wrote it down there.  What I want to share with you all is some lessons I have been learning the past 8 months being a "Sunday School Teacher."

I'm sure there are many of you out there who have taught or been involved with "Sunday School" before, so you may have realized much of what I am about to write.  I, however did not ever go to Sunday school growing up, and until 8 months ago probably would have never dreamed of teaching small sweet children God's holy innerant Word.  Well to my surprise, and joy God had ordained for me to do just that, and it has been such an experience, privilege and blessing! So, I'd like to share just a few things I've been learning through this endeavor of teaching Sunday school.  I hope it might be an encouragement to any of you who teach Sunday school, and to anyone in general to know that God works to grow us in ALL kinds of ways. 

"Lesson One": Keep it simple:

Well if any of you have spent a significant amount of time with a 2-4 year old you know that things get crazy & fast! You have their attention for maybe, maaaaybe 5 minutes.  The first thing that I had to learn was that when I prepared the lesson for these precious little ones, was that it had to be kept simple.  At 3 years old they will not understand or remember all the details of Genesis 1.  Find the main points of the lesson (maybe 3) and nail them in, over and over and over again! This was a good lesson for me, because it reminded me of the depth of God's Word.  How could I possibly think I could convey all the depth of Genesis 1 to a group of small children, if I will be pondering the depth of it for all eternity!?

"Lesson Two": Enthusiasm for Christ:

Recently, on one very busy & crazy Lord's day where we had about 10 kids in the 2-k group something happened that I think I might not ever forget.  We are sitting at snack, and miraculously by God's grace got all 10 kids to sit down at once.  When all the sudden, one little boy whom I absolutely adore starts to talk about how BIG and AWESOME Jesus is.  He got SO excited that he literally stood up nearly knocking over his chair saying with much passion "JESUS IS EVEN BIGGER THAN THIS ROOM! THIS CITY! HE IS LIKE....BIGGER THAN THE WHOLE WORLD! THEN THIS ENTIRE UNIVERSE!!!!!" This small boy was proclaiming this as loud as he possibly could and wildly waving his arms in the air I thought he might fall over.  When he was finished I wanted to get up out of my childsize chair and say "AMEN!" Now, this small boy probably did not know the depth of what he was saying, but his excitement is something I absolutely loved.  It made me think about many adults, including myself at times when we can be so numb to the awesome things of God! In a sense I want to be like the boy from my class, nearly falling over due to excitement for Christ!

"Lesson Three": Welcoming others:

One Sunday there was a new little girl from a different state who's family came to visit our church.  She was very shy but sweet as can be.  She knew nobody in the class, and all the other kids have known each other for a while.  I made sure to stay close to her so she wouldn't feel so overwhelmed.  During "craft time" the girls in the class all decided to sit at one time.  I pulled aside one of the little girls who comes every week and knows everyone, and said to her "Why don't you sit next to Sara? She doesn't know anyone here, and would probably love to make a friend."  To my delight (as I was unsure of what response I might get from a 3 year old girl) she said "oh! ok!" Then she walked over, sat down next to Sara, and started to talk to her and share with her.  By the end of the class they were playing like they had been friends for a while.  The sweetest thing was over 2 weeks later, after Sara had gone back home with her family the 3 year old girl I asked to befriend her said to me, "I miss Sara!" I loved watching this all take place.  It was such a reminder that it is always important to be welcoming to others! Especially those who are new & visitors at church. 

"Lesson Four": There is no mistake:

When it was first suggested to me almost a year ago that I should someday teach in a Children's ministry the idea absolutely terrified me.  I thought, "I can never do that! I'd have no idea how to do it! What to say!" A million things like that ran through my mind.  So my dear blogging friends, it is by God's grace & sanctification in my life that right now I am teaching and serving the Lord in a children's ministry.  It is all His work! If it weren't I would still be terrified.  I consider it an absolute joy, honor and privilege to serve the Lord in this way! And there is no doubt in my mind that He has placed in this specific role for a purpose.  I've always had a bubbly, almost silly, childlike personality and loved being with kids,  what better way to use that then for God's glory and serving Him? There is no doubt in my mind that this is where I should be serving.  I love it, and week in and week out my heart overflows with thankfulness for the privilege of being able to serve there!

So my friends, wherever it is God has placed you, whatever area you serve in, may we never tire of serving the Lord! May we never tire of praising His name, and serving Him with joy wherever He has placed us!

"As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good."

- 2 Thessalonians 3:13