Rock, Paper, Scissors

Today in Sunday School we explored the Bible passage where Jesus heals the paralyzed man whose friends lower him through the roof.

One of the activities we did was have kids form groups of four or five and choose one child to be the paralyzed person. Everyone else would carry that person around the room.

In several of the groups, more than one kid was very excited about being the paralyzed person. But what impressed me was, I didn't have to do any mediation. I watched as they thought of ways to resolve it, such as using Rock, Paper, Scissors.

I beamed with pride as these kids settled their conflicts easily, in ways everyone could accept. If only all disputes could be settled so easily!

Helping Hand

On the last weekend of every month, we have memory verse week. Our kids get to say the Bible verse from that month, and if they can say it they get a lollipop.

Because I care more about kids understanding Scripture than being able to repeat words, I give a fair amount of leeway (there's a bajillion different versions anyway). I'll even just let kids explain what the verse means. I want it to be in their hearts, not just their heads.

But last week, even with that flexibility, one girl was noticeably nervous about the verse. She wanted to say it, but she lacked the confidence and had wanted to run through it again as a group but we ran out of time.

I was going to work with her on it after the other kids had a turn, but as I was listening to the other kids I looked over to see another girl going through the verse with her, phrase by phrase. After the other kids finished I went over and girl #2 was being so encouraging, letting girl #1 know she had it down and could say the verse.

I offered to let them say it together if that would help, but girl #1 wanted to try it herself. As she stumbled over the first few words, she started to lose confidence. She shook her head. "I can't..."

"Yes you can," said girl #2. "You know this."

Girl #1 finished the verse, and girl #2 gave her a whole lot of congratulations.

I loved this exchange because I really hate when memorizing Scripture becomes just rote, and when it becomes stressful to kids. I want them to enjoy God's Word, and when they are stressing over exact words that's not going to be the flavor that gets left in their mouths. But girl #2's help and encouragement gave girl #1 the strength she needed to succeed and to keep up her confidence that she could know God's Word.