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.
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