Good for me

 

You know what’s good for my soul?

Lots of things.  But specifically, teaching Sunday school.

Homeschooling is also good for my soul.  Above, experimenting with yeast reactions.

I realized this a number of years back when I was teaching pre-kindergarteners.  Preparing lessons week after week on Moses and the Exodus—and later the Gospels, with fun object lessons like a staff turning into a [stuffed] snake; praying regularly for the children; being forced to be “on” every week with my head in the Bible and the Bible in my head.  Getting invested in the souls of the covenant children.  Delving deep into the real meaning of Jesus’ miracles and pondering how best to communicate it.  

Teaching was challenging, stretching, frightening, exhilarating.  It was a commitment I couldn’t easily get out of week by week so it tied me closer to the church.

In other words, my soul thrived.  More than you’d think, actually, since I could never go to adult Sunday school class and “be fed.”  

It turns out that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Sadly for her, Lizzy’s balloon remained the smallest.

Then I taught a class for adults with disabilities, which was a whole new adventure, fright, and delight.  I got to know people I wouldn’t have otherwise, people I’m so glad to call my friends.  And I was forced to think through, again, how to best communicate the good news to a class of students—students I was praying for and committed to.

Then this year my friend, children’s ministry director that she is, nudged me toward “coordinating” Sunday school instead of “teaching” it.  I was hesitant to accept.  But guess what?  It is also doing my soul good.  

True, a lot of it is tedium like making sure every classroom is staffed adequately and they all have enough working glue sticks.  But I also get to brainstorm and implement opening activities to get the kids engaged, and lately have been pushed into teaching the large group before they’re dismissed to their classrooms.

And now, since I foolhardily volunteered to write lessons for the whole summer, I’m again deep in teaching mode, thinking hard about what these children need to hear and how we might best communicate it.  

What a privilege it is to be active in Christ’s kingdom.  And how kind He is to gently use these things I’ve committed to, to keep me engaged with discipling the next generation, when I’m tempted to grumble or skip out—when I’d rather put my feet up than grow and help others to grow too.

Science again—soap vs. detergent.