Memorable Critters, Unforgettable Kids
Last week was my favorite and most exhausting week of the year: VBS (Vacation Bible School). It's a time to connect with fellow church friends. It's also an opportunity to serve one of the most meaningful groups of people: kids. Ages range from 3-year-olds to almost-teenagers (those going into seventh grade).
I take the week off from my normal job to help wherever I'm needed. I'm doing it right if I feel slightly silly and a lot like a kid again myself. Making a fool of myself causes me to fit right in. Bonus time with my daughter isn't a bad byproduct either. (She only has two more years of attending VBS, then she'll morph into a volunteer. 🥹)
As I taught a lesson to pre-primaries (3- through 6-year-olds), a high, squeaky voice was pulled off the shelf, dusted off, and used again for the first time in a while. It turns out it's a challenge to get kids to want to ask questions and participate, especially when snack time is right after… and they know it.
Another one of my roles was teaching the entire group about animals during the Creature Feature segment. (So, I guess you could say I was a Creature Feature teacher.) I taught how each of the five animals relates to Jesus in some unique way:
Day 1: A cougar kitten showed us that Jesus came to earth as a baby.
Day 2: A gray wolf "teenager" reminded us that Jesus didn't stay little.
Day 3: An American bison demonstrated God's almighty, unmatched power.
Day 4: A grizzly bear's den taught us that Jesus didn't stay in the tomb.
Day 5: A horse painted a picture of what it looks like to share the Good News.
But seriously, did you know an American bison eats the equivalent of 24 loaves of bread a day? It becomes a snowplow in the winter and can toss a refrigerator or a car… or a car that looks like a refrigerator. A horse can run more than 40 mph. A grizzly bear can gain 400 pounds before hibernation, storing much-needed fat for the winter, and has a sense of smell 2,100 times stronger than a human's, catching scents from 10 miles away.
The animal facts were fascinating, but they weren’t what stuck with me most.
(And I suppose when adults say they enjoyed it, that’s a job well done.)
What impressed me more than these critter facts was the moldability of the young minds around me. Not only were the kids brilliant, soaking up learning like sponges, but they were also tender and kind. They took time away from point-making opportunities (because what is a week of VBS without healthy competition?) to help kids from the opposing team learn verses and earn points of their own.
Reflecting on this week, I can’t help but smile. The animals were memorable, but the kids? Unforgettable. Watching them learn, encourage one another, and celebrate each other’s success showed me that shaping young minds isn’t just about teaching. It’s a reminder of what matters most.
And if I’m lucky, I’ll get to do it all over again next year.
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