Every year I work in a Bible club called 'Awana'. Awana is an acronym for "Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed". The theme verse for the club is 2 Timothy 2:15, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." I work with the Kinder-2nd grades, the Sparkies. Most of you who read this probably already knew this about me.
Well, every year we take the kids who have worked hard and finished their books to Wonderland Park. This is my third year to have the privelige of going on the trip. The other years, the leaders kind of sent my brother and I off on our own. We had lots of leaders, so we weren't really needed all that much. Well, this year we didn't have quite so many leaders.
There is this girl who asked me a few days before we went, "Can I stay with you while we are in the park this year?" This girl is like, my biggest fan at church. She loves to hang out with me. She thinks I'm the greatest, but I'm not sure why. Anyhow, I told her that she could hang out with me in the park. Well, she wasn't the only one who wanted to be in my group. When we all gathered round to decide who would be in what group with which leader, every girl except for one said, "I want to be in Anna's group!" Okay, this means that out of the 11 kids that came on the trip, 7 of them were in my group. Yikes.
I felt like a mother hen. I was constantly counting kids, looking around to make sure they were all there, putting out little fires in between them, trying to arrange who was going on what ride when... I felt like I was the mom of 7 kids! Not fun! Parenthood is going to be so hard!
Even though it's really hard to be in charge of so many, it was definitely a compliment. See, in my experience with communication with children, they're pretty honest. Brutally honest at times. They tell you what they think. I've seen kids tell adults that they are fat. They say it just like that. "You're fat!" The adults are usually, shocked, embarrased, and anxious to get out of there. When I was younger I told my grandma, "You look like you're dead when you don't wear your make-up. I think if you drove down the road, the oncoming cars would be scared because you look kind of like a zombie." Ouch! I can't believe I said that!
Kids haven't learned to watch what they say all the time. If they want to say something, they say it. If they don't want to say something, they don't say it. This is why a compliment from a child is so special to me. When they come and tell me I look nice, I beam. When they tell me that my group is their favorite to be in, it thrills my soul. When they want attention from me in particular, it positively makes my week. I keep every single picture or little gift they give to me. They go on my wall, above my mirror. Their hugs and kisses are priceless.
I love all of these things, because they all come out of sincere hearts. Adults say things because they "have to". If they don't tell you that you look nice, you'll be offended. If they don't tell you you did fine at a particular task, you'll get your feelers hurt. Sometimes we sacrifice honesty for public opinion. Kids don't.
One time I was in Kentucky, visiting my brother. He was in boot camp for the Army, and we went up there for Family Day. We went and visited a church there, and as we were leaving, this little girl looked up at me and gasped, "Mommy, that girl is so pretty." That comment meant more to me than that little girl will ever know.
When I was younger I would read Mark 10:14-16. This is what it says.
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
I would read this passage and wonder, "Why? Why did Jesus say this about kids? Why did he love kids so much?" Now that I'm a little older, I think I understand why. When kids do things, they don't hold back. If a child trusts someone, they trust them with everything they've got. There's something so genuine about children. Their minds are simple, uncomplicated by rough friendships, disappointing relationships, doubt...
When I was younger, it was easier for me to trust God. I rarely doubted Him. I so wish I could be like that now.
I learn from kids all the time, and I hope I never stop. I don't think they realize that some of them are my heros. They respect me, but I hold respect and admiration for some of them as well. I don't want to be a young child again, but I wish I could go back to that mindset. I wish I could be so uncomplicated.
I'm praying that I can be a good role model to them, an example of what the love of Christ should look like.
Anna
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