I found another old picture taken during my students' Christmas Musical Presentation (2007)--half of them were on stage while the other half were patiently waiting their turn, as seen above. (My son, Diego, is the second one from the left.)In Junior Church yesterday morning, I asked my K4-K5 students a very familiar question. Some answers were:
When I grow up, I want to be a:
Doctor or Nurse
Firegirl with a Maltese Firedog (interesting!)
Missionary
Policeman
Ambulance Driver
Teacher
Football Player
Soldier
I feel so privileged to be impacting the lives our next-generation leaders! God has promised that "His Word shall not return void", and I am counting on that! I only have very little time with these children--just an hour every week--and I hope I can make every second count, by God's grace.
An AWANA Youth Director presented some very troubling statistics not too long ago. While many children grow up in church, a big chunk of them actually don't return shortly after graduating high school. A small percentage of them stay (status quo), and very few heed God's calling to serve. 20 years from now, what will become of my students? A few months from now, many of these kids, including my son, will be leaving my class as they get promoted to the next level.
Kids grow up so fast, and we could never buy back time! We really need to rely on God for wisdom as we strive to raise positive kids in such a negative world. One thing I definitely need to add to my To-Do List: read Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World by Zig Ziglar. I could still remember, as a stubborn 10-year-old child, our Pastor recommending the parents to read this book. Wow, time sure flies!!!
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. " Proverbs 22:6
