There’s something undeniably refreshing about being around kids. Sure, they can be little monsters in their worst days and can be quite a handful at times. But their silly questions, wide-eyed curiosity, and their ability to make you appreciate the simplest of things is a real source of joy — that I can attest to.

You see, I started handling a Sunday School class in church yesterday. And for the next couple of Sundays, I get to have this wonderful job of sharing Bible stories to pre-schoolers, thinking of activities that they will enjoy, and babysitting them while their parents attend the Worship Service.

I didn’t really think I have the patience and attention span required to handle such responsibility, but time calls forth little changes in this life of mine and I have to make conscious efforts to get out of my zone and do stuff I was too complacent to try. Sad to admit, quarter life has so far made me bitter, overly serious, lonely and overworked, and I srsly need something to take me out of this rut I’m in.

So yeah. I signed up for this job in hopes of getting some sunshine back to my once-sunshiney self.

And trust me when I say that I see something wrong with that too because hey, as a Sunday School teacher, you should be the one putting something on the plate and ministering to the kids, right, and here I go looking at these kids as if they’re a bunch of therapists. Perhaps that’s the thing that has drawn me towards this ministry — you reach out to these kids hoping that they pick up little somethings out of the Bible stories you share to them and your funny interactions in class, but in hindsight, they’re actually the ones making a huge difference in your life. And the fact that they’re actually unconscious about it (that they’re instrumental to bringing forth answers to your adult life’s issues and dramas) makes the whole thing even more.. heaven-sent.

Sunday School to me is an answered prayer in every way.

Time and time again I get to be reminded why Jesus loves little children, and why He wants us to keep that childlike faith. Because children are happy little people. They have the most genuine smiles. They listen attentively, laugh much, say what’s in their minds. They ask a lot of questions, they seek for answers. They cling on and ask for help when they don’t know what to do, without any pretensions nor pride. They trust blindly, believe wholly, love easily.

I’m happy for the opportunity to have some of their sunshine rub in on me.

Edit. Thanks, Ate Jam, for sharing this verse:

1 At that time the disciples came up and asked Jesus, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 And He called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them,

3 And said, “Truly I say to you, unless you repent [change, turn about] and become like little children, you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all].

4 Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name receives and accepts and welcomes Me.”

Matthew 18:1-5