Lessons from Kindergarten #3

Things I Learned in Kindergarten...well, actually the title should be "Things I Learned While Working in My Daughter's Kindergarten Class on Friday Afternoons," but honestly, that really doesn't roll off the tongue does it?

Jesus was big on children and believed that they had some special insights about faith. Overlooking the fact that Jesus did not have kids, and thus was spared changing dirty diapers and dealing with a two year old who have just learned the word "no," let assume he was right. I have put my keen intellect to the task and come up with several "insights" about faith that I discovered while working in my daughter's Kindergarten class. Here we go:



#3 It's Soooooo Cool to Have Your Name Picked!


In my daughter's Kindergarten class there are certain "jobs" that the children get to do. These include taking the attendance sheet to the office; leading the Pledge of Allegiance; deciding what the weather is like outside and then filling in the weather chart. There are also several tasks in which the kids get to use the pointer (who doesn't love that feeling of authority that comes when you get to use a stick and point to things). While the chosen one is pointing out words on the wall the other children sing the song that goes with the list - Days of the Week, Months of the Year, Money.

None of these tasks are all that glamorous. They take a minute or so and everybody gets a chance to do it. Yet the kids look forward to having their name called. They may not hear another thing the teacher says all day but you can bet when their name is chosen they are quick to jump up and get to work. I have yet to hear one child complain about being called on. Nor have any of them thought to ask the teacher why she does not take the attendance to the office herself. I guess that response comes in middle school. In Kindergarten, being called on to help is cool. Really cool.

Somewhere between Kindergarten and middle school helping out loses it luster (I am guessing around 5th grade, but that just may be my own long, painful experience with my oldest child when she was in that grade). Instead of being cool and exciting, helping becomes a chore. Some kids will outgrow this and regain some passion for helping. Others will only agree to help out if the task is important enough and they get recognized for their efforts. Sadly, there is a group that never, ever want to do anything for anyone but themselves.

I often wonder how frustrating this must be for God. Each day are names are called out and we are given the opportunity, no, the privilege to help out. We get to say a kind word to someone who is down, hold the hand of someone who is grieving, or share a meal with someone who is hungry. How many of us jump up when the chance comes, eager and willing to help out? Do we look forward to hearing our name called? Or do we pretend that God is not talking to us? Imagine what kind of a world we might live in if we all acted like Kindergartners?