One of the things on my "bucket list" was to become a Sunday School teacher and, a few years ago when I still lived in Montreal, I had the opportunity to do just that. The church I was attending at the time had just launched a new Sunday morning curriculum for kids and teachers were needed. I think I literally ran into the minister's office waving my arms going "pick me! pick me! let me do it!"
I taught Sunday School there for two years. Two years of kid hugs and glitter all over the floor and Bible character puppets and off-key singing of "Jesus loves me, this I know". Two years of hearing the sweetest, most authentic prayers ever spoken. Two years of trying my best to fill these kids up with a sense of purpose and identity and conviction. Two years of sparkling little eyes looking up at me, waiting for answers I didn't have to offer. Two years of learning together - them learning "the facts" from me but, mostly, me learning "the truth" from them.
I remember one Sunday morning in particular. I was about to begin a lesson on Jericho and how God made the walls come tumbling down when one of my students interrupted with a very important question.
"Miss Stephanie, what language does God speak?" she asked.
That's an easy one, I thought to myself. "God speaks all languages," I replied. "Every single one of them."
"Yeah, but which one will we speak in heaven?"
I put down my papers and pondered this for a minute because, truthfully, I'd never really given it much thought before. The Bible makes several references to believers worshiping together, lifting up praise and thanksgiving together, so will there be a predominant language in heaven? Hebrew, maybe? Or maybe we'll all speak in "tongues", the language of angels? They hadn't covered this in my theology courses at university.
Luckily, another student came to my rescue and informed the class, quite confidently, that:
"God speaks heart language. And when we get to heaven, we'll speak heart language too."
Wow. Talk about nailing it right on the head. Kids are just brilliant. Truly brilliant. ♥
"People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw this, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. 'Leave these children alone. Don't get between them and me. These children are the kingdom's pride and joy. Mark this: unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child you will never get it." - Luke 18:16-17
xo
