Our church blessed Robbie and me with a sweet service this morning that honored the development of Children's Church. It's hard to believe that it's been over twenty years since I started teaching the children during worship service. The children have taught me as much as I ever taught them -- and in a much funnier manner! I just thought I would share some of the highlights over the years (in no particular order):
1. When I asked Zack and Jordan to explain why we should have Thanksgiving, they hurriedly put all their wordly and biblical fourth-grade knowledge together and said: Because the Pilgrims were hungry, and Squanto brought them two fish and five loaves of bread!
2. While reciting Psalm 23, Leigh got to the part "He restores my soul," but instead said, "He will steal my sword."
3. While we were acting out the story of Moses and the Red Sea, Zack was playing the part of Moses and Karissa was an Israelite woman. As Zack held his hand out over the blue "water," Karissa crossed the "sea" and then looked back. With horror on her face, she said, "Huwwy, Gack! The Gyptians are coming!" Zack: "Don't wowwy, Kwissa! I'm coming!"
4. When I asked Will what he had learned in school that week, he told me he now knew just what to do in case his house caught on fire. "All I have to do is just shake, rattle, and roll."
5. Julie always talked about wanting a brother or a sister. After the story of Samuel's mother praying without ceasing for a baby, Julie said, "Well, just call me Hannah."
6. After our dog had puppies, Robert couldn't stand the thought of leaving them at home while we went to church...so we took them (and their mom). Robert beamed as all his classmates watched the puppies, and with all the confidence in the world, said, "Don't pick them up yet. They're too little. They still have to eat from their mama's kidneys."
7. Karissa raised her hand in church one Sunday when we had gone out for the song service. When the preacher asked her what she wanted to pray for, she batted those long eyelashes, shook back her waist-length hair, and sweetly said, "Please pray for my mama that she will not be sooooo mean." Pam almost died!
8. Josh asked if Jesus lived on a farm, or how else would he know what all to put here for a farm?
9. Lauren asked if she could have chicken strips in heaven, because how else could she never be hungry again?
10. Gabby cried one Sunday when her daddy picked her up early to go to a family reunion. He decided to let her stay when she wailed, "You're taking me out, and we haven't even learned about God!!"
11. Once in the middle of snack (quite possibly the most important part of Children's Church), this conversation happened:
Bailey: Y'all, I've got to quit eating. I weigh thirty-seven!
Blake: Thirty-seven? That ain't nothing!
Morgan: Yeah, my mama weighs more than that.
Bailey: Well, my mama's older than your mama.
Morgan: Uh uh. My mama's the oldest of all.
Gabby: No, Morgan, my mama is older because she is your mama's sister and she's older.
Blake: Well, this is the truth: My daddy is the oldest and if you don't know it, look at his head. He has GRAY hair!
12. Over a couple of years, we had some Mexican children who were just learning to speak English. Robert was helping me one Sunday and Emir was learning our names. Every time, he got everyone right until he got to Robert -- Emir called him cinca. At first it was funny, but soon Robert couldn't figure out why Emir wouldn't say Robert but called him cinca instead. And then we found out. Emir stood up, poked Robert right on the chest -- where his jersey had a big number 5 on it -- and said in a way that meant business, "CINCA!!"
There are so many blessings I've gotten from Children's Church. I've had the special privilege of teaching all three of my children and all seven nieces and nephews, as well as numerous cousins and church family children. For years, I was known by all the children as Aunt Lisa. Now, it is not uncommon to hear the children call me ZiZi. Robbie has been such a huge influence once his work schedule all owed him to partner with me. He is PopPop to all the children.
As I told the church today, the Bible passage that is my guide for this ministry is in Acts chapter 8. It's the story of Phillip approaching the Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah. When Phillp asks if he understands, the Ethiopian replies, "How can I understand, unless I have someone to teach me?" That is my mission -- to help the children understand not only the stories of the Bible, but the plan of salvation as well. I look forward to many more blessings as I teach the second generation of Chilren's Church.
As the service closed today, Allen presented me with a framed document that we had given Bro. James Owens, the pastor under whom Children's Church was established. The event was his twentieth anniversary in the ministry. Bro. James (also known as Bull) had preached at homecoming and had brought it back saying that it seemed that he thought it belonged at Sweet Home. The document had been presented by Children's Church, and had been "signed" with the fingerprints of all our little ones. How sweet to see all their tiny fingerprints. How touching that Robert's was one of them. How kind of Bro. Bull to offer it to us. How thoughtful of our church to have this service today and present it to Robbie and me. How blessed we are to be a part of such a loving and warm church family. My cup runneth over. I hope my saucer can catch it all!
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