Bay Presbyterian Church - Kids Getting It

ARE THESE KIDS EVEN GETTING IT?

Ever since we started Kids Church, we’ve done the ‘Giving Lesson’ talking about tithing and I’ve wondered, “Are they really getting it? Is any of this sinking in?” Well, I got my answer a couple of weeks ago.

As I pulled up to the church, one of my boys came running to the car waving a couple of dollars. He couldn’t wait for me to get out so he could tell me he had $10 and saved a couple bucks from that ten to put in the offering plate. He explained that he had found the $10 bill at his house and used some of it to treat his brothers to breakfast before coming to Kids Church.

At the end of Kids Church his uncle showed up, very upset that one of his nephews had taken his $10. Apparently, the money fell out of his pocket. The boy, not wanting to get in trouble, tried to come up with every excuse he could think of to avoid punishment. I decided to tell him a story from my youth that was similar. I told him how even though I knew I was busted, I still tried to lie my way out, but the lies got bigger and the punishment got harder and if I would have just told the truth from the start I probably wouldn’t have gotten into as much trouble. With that, he walked home, as slow as he could.

The next day he showed up at Sunday school with a big smile on his face and said, “I did what you said, about telling the truth, and I didn’t get in trouble!” Later that day he asked me if I had any more "truth stories" because he liked knowing he isn’t alone with the stuff he faces.

Well, last Saturday we started visiting, going to his house. As his mom was filling out the Master Release form, she started talking about the $10 bill incident. She said she gave him a chance to tell his story and what he told her blew her mind.

She asked what he spent it on and he told her he bought breakfast for his little brothers. She asked him if he spent it all and he said, “No.” She asked where the rest of it went and he told her he put it in the offering plate. She asked why and he said, “Because God blesses me all the time, and it was only right to give some back to God!” She said she couldn’t punish him because she herself was convicted and she went to her room and cried!

The very next day when the boy and brothers came to church, the mom came with them! Little miracles like this have been happening all the time since we started Kids Church! I am in complete awe when I think of the relationships we are building and the lives we are touching. And I am humbled that God would choose to even use me!

Kelly Geiger, Coordinator

Martin Luther/St. Paul

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