Bible School

With bible school coming up soon, I've been thinking about what it was like when I was little. I didn't come to Sunshine when I was little. As a matter of fact, I started coming to Sunshine when I was in 11th grade. I grew up next door to a family who always took us to bible school out on 140. My sisters and I always called that particular church building "bible school and church". To this day, we still call it that.

I hated being invited to bible school. It was very uncomfortable to go to a church building where you don't know anyone and you're stared at by tons of eyes while being surrounded by utter chaos from the kids around you. I hated bible school because it meant that school was just a few weeks away and I hated school. That's another blog post altogether.....for a later time.

What I do remember is this:

I remember every single adult smiling.
I remember being treated very gently by every single adult.
I remember feeling like I was cared for.
I remember getting to eat cookies and koolaid.
I remember the flannel board with a bunch of guys with dresses on being put on it.
I remember cookie monster always showing up to entertain the kids and eat cookies.
I remember singing lots of fun songs as loud as we could possibly sing.

Each year, I dreaded bible school but each year my neighbor stopped by the house and took us to this church building where it all took place. I only hated bible school because it meant school was getting ready to start, not because bible school was bad. I always felt welcome at bible school and no one ever treated me badly. It was clear that I was loved and they were all happy I was there.

It's interesting to me to think about the fact that I don't remember one single bible story from way back then. I do, however, remember how I was treated with love and kindness. It was love that got my attention. It was this same love that drew me closer to God. Now look at me.

Could it be that bible school is so much more than teaching biblical truths to children? Could it be that bible school is a means by which we reach out to the community and love them?

My parents didn't go to church when we were little and so neither did we. That is, unless someone else took us. How important is our role as neighbors, to invite children and offer to take them to class for one week out of 52? We just have no idea how huge this is do we? Just by showing up and smiling at a child during bible school can mean everything to them. It may be that you are the only one who has ever given them a kind look in their little lives.

There is power in the ability to just show up.

Jennifer