One of my favorite parts of the week is teaching Sunday School at my church every Sunday morning.
Now if you know me at all, you may find this slightly ironic. I’m generally not a fan of kids. I don’t get that excited over little babies, I’m not afraid to admit that they all pretty much look creepy when they’re born (myself included!), and I cannot stand the sound of whining. Literally- it makes my skin crawl.
And yet, every weekend, I volunteer my time to play with children and help them learn about Jesus Christ. And I love it! I’ve worked in the children’s ministry pretty consistently in the last three and a half years, but it’s only been in the last year that I’ve really dedicated myself to the elementary aged group.
I’ve gotten to form relationships with so many of these children, and watch them grow in life and through their understanding of The Gospel. They are funny, incredibly smart, and amaze me just about every week with their insight and unique views of the world. Sure, they’re crazy and exhausting and even a little sassy, but they teach me more than I can even begin to teach them.
Usually our lessons are pretty basic, and I’m more focused on making sure the game/verse/activity goes smoothly than the actual story. For some reason though, today’s really hit home.
For the month of August we’re discussing grace, and this week we discussed the story of The Lost/Prodigal Son. As I watched the video, I was shocked at how immediately I disagreed with the story. The son was rude and awful to his father, he leaves, spends all his father’s money, and then returns back to his father…who accepts him with open arms and unrelenting love.
Whaaaaaat?? I thought. That is so stupid. He’s such a selfish jerk. I would never accept him back like that!
And then…it hit me. Of course he accepted him back. Did the son deserve it? Probably not. But his father extended him grace, just like Our Father extended it to all of mankind. He loved us as sinners, when we most certainly didn’t deserve anything at all. We’re all selfish jerks sometimes, but it’s on the grace of God that we can stand and be judged.
It has nothing to do with what we’ve done or what we will do. And if I’m truly going to love others like the Bible has instructed me to do, I need need to remember first what God has done for me, and continues to do every day through the death and resurrection of his Son.
You didn’t think Sunday School was so deep, huh? 
