Tomorrow is Sunday, and I am looking forward with great eagerness and anticipation to one of the great loves of my life at our church! Yes, I love the worship with all my heart, and I love the fellowship of the body of Christ, but that is not what I am referring to.
Another lady and I have been co-teaching the nursery Sunday School class at our church. These children are aged from two years to four years, and they teach me new things constantly! What precious, precious little hearts!
At our church these children start in our Sunday School class as soon as they turn two years old, which is a huge blessing instead of waiting until the new Sunday School year starts in September and being overwhelmed with tots that don’t know how to sit and learn. This way, they enter one by one and the newest child can get the undivided attention that they need for a week or two until they are soon sitting there with all the other ‘big’ kids and doing their lessons. It’s amazing how quickly they catch on!
When it’s my turn to teach and I’m sitting in front of that semi-circle of precious faces looking at me and hanging on my every word, my heart is stilled with the awesome responsibility that is in my hands. And then, when we review the catechism questions and they repeat it so quickly, I am amazed at how quickly these little ones pick up what we tell them and innocently accept it as Gospel Truth. It makes me very, VERY careful to never use an illustration that might confuse them. It really keeps me on my toes! And it keeps me thankful that we have this opportunity to teach them the Truth.
One little girl in particular is very well trained at home also. Every new catechism truth that is taught in Sunday School, she already knows! And when the question is asked, she quickly says the answer—even before we tell it. And her little eyes sparkle and glow every time I say, “That’s absolutely correct, Lydia!”
Oh, how I love every one of these children. And now, as we enter the summer quarter I am trying to remind myself that Holly and Laney and all of the 4-year-olds will only be in our class for three more months and then they will move on. Can I bear to let them go? Well, honestly it hurts to even think of it, but I must! As I watched my own children grow up and leave the nest, no matter how much it hurts, it must happen. And I must teach myself all over again to be happy as I watch them grow and learn. And mostly, I can be happy that God shared them with me for such a brief moment. Now there’s the gift!!!