Teaching the Wee Ones
Do you remember the first time you experienced the Word of God? Picture eight one or two year olds gathered around a table, legs trying to reach the floor but not making it, listening with rapt or divided attention, hearing about God. The Word is planted early in our little ones’ hearts on Sundays. From the time they enter the nursery, our infants are surrounded with the body of Christ rocking, humming, playing and snuggling with them. This is their first experience with community. They move across the hall when they begin to walk. This hour is filled with play, snack and the Word. Laura Droege, Robbie Kimbrough and Michelle Sullins take turns sharing the Word of God with our wee ones.
As they sit in their “too big” chair, a voice is singing and passing out animals and objects about how they get to church. Lilly Kate knew to send her helicopter into the air and shake her head “no” when asked if she came to church on a helicopter. Then a car appears and little heads are nodding that they come to church in a car. Eliza was ready when it came time to pray. She stretched her arms wide and quickly clasp her hands, leading the others around her. Rosemary was new to the room, and unsure about all the activity, watched from a lap or the top of the slide while Johnny, also new, sat in Heather’s lap. When small Bibles that are just the right size for these little hands came out, patting began. Campbell knew what to do next. She looked for the treasures (or stickers of happy faces and animals) hidden in God’s Word. The key figure in the lesson appeared in the form of a rag doll named Mimmie and each pair of arms embraced their own version of her. Mimmie learned about God being present and creating her with eyes, arms and legs so she could experience what he created. Each one was reminded that God created them with eyes to see, arms to hug, legs to run. The mirror came next and as each little face peered into the mirror, they were asked, “Who does Jesus love?” The eyes were seeing their own reflections breaking out into big grins as they heard “Jesus loves Eliza!” and all the other names of their friends in the room.
What is it that draws these women to give up their adult time to bring the Word of God to even our littlest ones? How excited they get about their Bibles. We get to be the first ones to teach them about Jesus in the church. They don’t ask hard, theological questions. The blessing is found in seeing a smile when a little hand pats a small Bible. The joy is experienced in watching them grasp the routine and know you are sowing seeds for eternity even at one or two years old. The lesson is found in demonstrating community by serving. So, if you ever have an opportunity to volunteer in these rooms during Sunday school, grab it. It may be one of the best Sunday mornings you experience as you sit with the smallest of these and hear the Word of our God. “But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” (Luke 9:47-48)