I realized something about the preschool class I teach at church. I realized that while I adore each and every precious little one that enters on Sunday morning, and while sometimes many of them drive me to my very last nerve, there is always a significant purpose to what I'm doing there. Sometimes the class time seems so mundane. That sounds terrible, but it's honestly how I feel when half the kids are screaming at each other because "He won't share the blue truck with me!" and "She tripped me on purpose!"
I stopped and realized something. Even on Sundays when those kids are completely bent on disregarding everything I do or say -- when they aren't listening to the lesson, when they aren't sharing the blue trucks, when they're tripping each other on purpose -- they may still get something out of it. It may just be something I'm not aware of. God can still work on their hearts in phenomenal ways, even if they're just crazy little four year olds.
Something else that gave me an even more renewed sense of purpose in that class. Those rowdy kids may not have learned anything spectacular in the class, but their parents may still have gained something from the main service. By sacrificing my time to spend it with a dozen preschoolers, I allow their parents the chance to go to service -- perhaps to experience God's love for the first time. They get a break from their kids so that they can sit and listen, free of distractions for a little while. When I remember this, it's so much easier for me to see how serving in KidZone really is a special opportunity.
Have you heard of Gene Allen, Loretta Ritter, or Jo Williams? Nope, you haven't. They were my Sunday School teachers during those crazy preschool and elementary years. I am quite certain that I made them want to pull their hair out, but 38 years later I remember their names and can testify that they made a difference. I guarantee the same will happen with your little students. Keep persevering, Emily. You are changing lives!
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