Only in Kindergarten
Shawn King / College & Young Adult Pastor
Our oldest daughter Phoebe is a sweet, kind and fun little girl. She has been a part of the Preschool for the past couple years and this fall it was time to send her to kindergarten. There were many emotions on the first day of school. Danielle and I were excited for her, but nervous. All Phoebe really cared about was that she got to ride the bus. There were many hugs and snuggles all morning and then the moment came: we put her on the bus and watched her drive away. There was a certain ‘end of an era’ feeling.
We walked inside only to find her water bottle on the breakfast table instead of in her backpack. Bummer, day one and we already forgot one of her main school supplies. So I did what any dad would do … I used that cup as an excuse to go try and see her at school. Sadly I did not get to see her, but as I was walking out of the building and to the car a thought hit me. Phoebe may be only in kindergarten, but she already needs to know who Jesus is and why she would want to follow Him.
Questions about faith aren’t going to wait for an ‘age of accountability.’ The little boys and girls in Phoebe’s class have questions, paradigms and beliefs of their own already. In that moment I was so grateful for what she told me that morning at the breakfast table. When we told her that not everyone in her school knows Jesus yet, her simple response was, “I guess I’ll have to learn the Bible more so I can teach them.”
We don’t always get to realize all the work we have put into teaching our kids about Jesus, but every now and then, we get a glimpse of the beautiful Gospel working itself out in their hearts.
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Our oldest daughter Phoebe is a sweet, kind and fun little girl. She has been a part of the Preschool for the past couple years and this fall it was time to send her to kindergarten. There were many emotions on the first day of school. Danielle and I were excited for her, but nervous. All Phoebe really cared about was that she got to ride the bus. There were many hugs and snuggles all morning and then the moment came: we put her on the bus and watched her drive away. There was a certain ‘end of an era’ feeling.
We walked inside only to find her water bottle on the breakfast table instead of in her backpack. Bummer, day one and we already forgot one of her main school supplies. So I did what any dad would do … I used that cup as an excuse to go try and see her at school. Sadly I did not get to see her, but as I was walking out of the building and to the car a thought hit me. Phoebe may be only in kindergarten, but she already needs to know who Jesus is and why she would want to follow Him.
Questions about faith aren’t going to wait for an ‘age of accountability.’ The little boys and girls in Phoebe’s class have questions, paradigms and beliefs of their own already. In that moment I was so grateful for what she told me that morning at the breakfast table. When we told her that not everyone in her school knows Jesus yet, her simple response was, “I guess I’ll have to learn the Bible more so I can teach them.”
We don’t always get to realize all the work we have put into teaching our kids about Jesus, but every now and then, we get a glimpse of the beautiful Gospel working itself out in their hearts.
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58