Leaping Lizards! I think they've got it!

Want to have an interesting week? Looking for a little excitement?

I've got a few suggestions:

1.) Volunteer at your church’s Vacation Bible School program “Rome: Paul and the Underground Church.”

2.) Enclose 120 summer-crazed children in a single large room.

3.) Try to teach them something.

4.) Agree to be the small group leader for the fifth graders. Hope that most of them are boys. (I’m running a little low on middle school drama in my house right now, so this is PERFECT!)

5.) Turn your group loose outside for some recreation. Watch as they catch lizards, pry open their mouths and sink their little amphibian teeth into their earlobes for lizard earrings! All the cool kids are doing it.

6.) Give them sashes (in keeping with the ancient Rome theme). This week, I’ve learned that these make great headbands, slings and bandages. You can even tie your feet together and hop around bumping into people! They’re great for ill-timed games of tug-of-war! And, if you really get bored, make one into a straightjacket contraption and pretend like you’re choking yourself! Big fun!

7.) Put a bowl of grapes and trail mix in the middle of the floor. Ask your group if they’re ready for a snack.

8.) Try to lead your group in meaningful discussion with 110 other kids closeby.

I promise you. You will not be bored.

I knew my rowdy crew was having fun. But with all the horsing around and distractions, I wasn’t convinced that a whole heck of a lot was sinking in.

Then, one of the coordinators suggested that I move my spirited group to a quieter corner. When I did, an amazing thing happened. They gave great feedback. They shared their thoughts. They asked thought-provoking questions.

Hmmm… maybe they “got” more than I thought.

I find it’s like that with my kids, too. I’ll teach, instruct, discipline. And, at times, they appear oblivious. They’re distracted. Hyper. Bored. Defiant.

But every now and then, usually in a quiet moment, they throw me a bone. They give me a glimmer (sometimes more!) that all of my efforts have not been for nothing. And the words I’ve spoken come back to me – out of their mouths. Amazing.

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 (New Living Translation)