Charis
September 25, 2022
To me, if there's one thing that makes kids' ministry different than all the other types of ministries, it's humor!
When Chickens Fly
My first true ministry trip with the KidzAblaze team, I experienced this random humor that kids bring.
Pastor Randy had encouraged us to spread out among the kids during lunch. Being shy, I preferred sitting by people I knew, but hey--they were just kids! I could make it through, even if none of the other team members were around.
I struck up a conversation with one of the girls. A few minutes later, it went something like this...
"So what's your favorite animal?" I say.
"Chickens. We have lots of chickens!" The girl takes a bite of the spaghetti.
"Oh, neat."
"I like our chickens. Did you know chickens can fly?? I teach 'em!"
I set down my fork. "You teach your chickens to fly?"
She leans forward. "Yep! You just..." She then proceeds to explain the whole process of teaching chickens to fly. "Sometimes they fly up to the trees and get out of the pen," she says.
"Wow." Inwardly, I laugh.
"I also love giraffes!"
Now I crack a smile.
And so that's a taste of my first lunch conversation with a kid on a KidzAblaze trip. And boy, was it interesting! I love how random and funny kids are.
How Kids Teach Us
Sometimes these trips remind me the importance of paying attention to kids. While they're amusing, kids also have taught me a lot of things.
For example, kids teach us is to be creative! They're not scared of failure--they create anyways. Around kids, I wasn't self-conscious about that "rocket ship" I built from legos. I found I enjoyed attaching stubby wings to the base and installing crazy appliances inside!
Kids teach us to laugh. After all, "A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones." (Proverbs 17:22, NKJV)
Kids show us the value of simplicity. How many times I've marveled at the contentment a 4-year-old has with one toy or game! In our culture, it's so easy to always be looking at the next best thing, and keep busy. Stopping and enjoying what we have in front of us is so valuable!
Jesus expressed similar sentiments about the value and knowledge of children:
But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." (Luke 8:16-17, NKJV)
But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?" (Matthew 21:15-16, NKJV)
My challenge for us is to enjoy the values kids remind us of! How can we learn from them this week?