THIS POST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FERGUSON RIOTS! LOL
I am at the end of my 17th week of being a first time professional teacher. I’ve been on Thanksgiving break all week…which is officially week 17. I haven’t blogged on week 16 until now…well…because I’ve been on T-Giving break!
Last week, as we closed down our 16th week to get ready for this great break I’ve been on, we had an all School Thanksgiving Chapel service. The chapel service is how Friday ended. We were done by 10:30 AM that Friday and everybody was so excited to get off campus and begin our full 9 day break!!
Before I talk about what I learned from the All School Chapel Service, I simply want to say, it is a true challenge to try to teach the Students of Room 1501 the entire week, when they know they have a full 9 days of break coming up. ADD, ADHD, SPASTIC KIDS, TROUBLE MAKERS & RULE BREAKERS come out of the cracks and push any adult irritation button they can find. 🙂
I didn’t mind. I was one of those students too. In fact, I’m going to guess that you have trouble focusing at work when you know a big vacation is coming up. So, I planned for it. I prepared for the week to be of a lighter subject in Room 1501. It made for a good week. “If you can’t beat em…join em!” And when I say “beat em”…I mean it in all senses. LOL
On Friday, this Chapel service was really great. See Pic. 
We sang songs, watched video footage of different people saying what they were thankful for. Played some silly games, prayed, listened to a great message from Pastor Patrick Youngs and then we ran for the parking lot to begin our Thanksgiving Vacation.
I was reminded of something at this chapel service. Again, it was an all School Chapel Day. This means that ALL students K-12 were in attendance. As the chapel service progressed, there was great excitement coming from the 4th Grade and below age groups. When the speaker asked for a response, this age group complied enthusiastically. When the worship leader was leading us in song, this same age group sang at the top of their lungs! They laughed out loud when things were funny. They were fully engaged.
I think this age group is special. I wish this age group’s carefree and uninhibited demeanor is how we all behaved for the rest of our lives. I think this type of Child is what Jesus meant when He said, “17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17 NLT
These kids were inspiring to watch and listen to. They were fully engaged and they obviously didn’t care about the High School and Middle School Age Group’s potential of making fun of them for such “silly behavior.”
I think you know what I mean. These young kids would do about anything. They have great courage and are unrestrained. Some of the sophisticated types might call them, undignified.
That word, undignified, is found in a great Bible story of King David…He came dancing into town in front of the Ark of the Covenant after a great battle. His wife saw him and didn’t just roll her eyes but scolded him for such undignified behavior that was not befitting of a king. I love King David’s reply….In fact…here is the story… It is found in 2 Samuel 6:16-21
16 But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him.17 They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. 18 When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 19 Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes.20 When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”21 David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord.22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”
When was the last time you were undignified in an honorable child-like pure way?
When was the last time you rolled down the windows of your car and sang the song on the radio as loud as you could?
When was the last time you struck up a conversation with a total stranger?
When was the last time you made a mud pie or played in the dirt?
Run through a sprinkler?
When was the last time you giggled so hard, your stomach hurt?
Built a sand castle?
Play with play-dough?
Build a fort using only blankets and couch cushions?
Finger paint using only pudding?
Jump on a trampoline?
Watching the young kids at the All School Thanksgiving Chapel reminded me of how cool it is to be a kid. Something happens in us when we “grow up”. I’m not sure its a good thing. In another passage of scripture Jesus said, “”Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 NIV
If I were Jesus I would have had the Apostle Paul add another Spiritual Gift to the lists found in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 … I would have had Paul add… “The Spiritual Gift of Immaturity.”
I have this gift. Just ask the students in Room 1501. I say things that the average Bible Teacher doesn’t say. I say things the typical preacher doesn’t say. It has gotten me in trouble with the people I like to call, “Old Grumpy Pants!” It will continue to get me in trouble. I’m really okay with that fact.
Life is so short.
We all need to lighten up.
Go get the crayons out. Color a picture. Color outside the lines. Then…bring it to me or send it with your student.
I’ll tac it on the wall of Room 1501. 
It’ll inspire others to be child like.
It will brighten someone’s day.
It will give me a story to tell.
I’ll bet God will use it to change a life.
Trent