Always be kind to one another . . .

"The Bible story today is about a man who could not walk or run. His legs didn't work right and he just had to lay on a mat all day long. He couldn't run or walk at all. Can you imagine if you couldn't walk or run??? I can't run very good myself - but I do a little bit on my treadmill sometimes - but mostly I just walk because I can't run", said Miss Teri the Sunday School Teacher.

"Is that because you are old?", said Joey.

"Yes Joey, I guess it is.", said Miss Teri :)

My second Sunday to teach preschool-kindergarten class. Be careful what you tell them!! Today's lesson was from 1 Thesselonians 5 - "and we should be kind to one another". I love our curriculum but I wasn't very fond of the opening activity so I substituted having the class play a game of "memory". Remember that game? Matching up the pairs. The idea was to play the game together and talk about how we can be kind to one another. Now when I remember back to my own kids being young I remembered that sometimes board games can lead to hurt feelings and mad people! Kids this age like to win! And sorry to my kids, but don't feel offended as I KNOW it is that way with all normal healthy kids. So - - - imagine my surprise when Morgan decided to tell Emilie where the pairs were?? And then Joey helped Emilie and then Tatum helped Morgan! I hadn't even taught the lesson yet and these little ones were already being kind to one another!! I sang their praises to them and to their parents. The parents assured ME that the same would not have happened if their siblings were playing the game with them!!

You all remember the story about the poor lame man - who could not walk or run - (maybe he was old?? :)) and his friends wanted to help him, so they took him to see Jesus. Everyone was there to see Jesus and the house was packed, the yard was packed, and there was no way for the four friends to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus. So . . . picture us marching up the stairs . . they marched up the side stairs and tore off the roof and lowered their friend right in front of Jesus! Jesus forgave the man for his sins and healed him due to his friends' faith!

One of the best things about pre-school/kindergarten age - you can build a house out of four chairs and they believe it is a house!

Another great thing about children is you can take your favorite doll "Fuzzy" and a couch throw and tell them it is the "crippled man on his mat" and they don't care! They were happy to carry their "friend" to see Jesus!

Blessings in lessons we can learn from children.

Earlier this week I received a hurtful email. I did what all grown women would do - - - I called up my sister and we both got MAD! You think the big sister sticks up for the little sister?? Well folks - this time it was the little sister who delivered some punches for the big sister! Blessings in sisters. We soon realized that not all people were raised to be polite and kind. And honestly, I wasn't feeling very kind for a day or so - but we managed to stay kind -  but not be doormats for other's cruelness.

Here's a thought though - from our worship service this morning - think about the disciples who left their lives to follow Jesus. At one point they are out in a boat on the water and the storm hits and they have to row and row and row for miles and finally Jesus walks out to them and tells them - Here I am - do not be afraid. You might ask - why would these devoted followers of Jesus, these believers, have to have such a hard time? Why did they have to be afraid? Why did they have to keep rowing for so far? Our pastor answered this by saying - folks - - - As a Christian - you are a new creation - - - but you still live in a fallen world and sin prevails. The hope in this is to know that Jesus is still able to say I am here and do not be afraid.

I share this - because it helped me to remember that yes my feelings will get stepped on from time to time - there is sin and meanness in the world. People hurt each other. I am thankful that this little thing is what I had to wrestle with and not something truly big like others face.  Sometimes the hard things don't get taken from your life but we know that God is there with us and cares.


"See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other, to all people."
 1 Thesselonians 5:15

Carrying our sick friend to Jesus