"Look Miss Molly!"

A child came into the kid zone who is normally a rambunctious child. He hates the word no, hits and kicks teachers and other kids and has tantrums that shake the earth. Most of the time I and the other teachers get fed up and yell at him, which only makes it worse. But God has been teaching me something. If I want a child to listen to me then don't raise my voice! (Ephesians 4:29-32). Talk to them like they're people. Explain calmly to them why what they're doing is wrong, and affirm when they are doing something right. Every chance I have with a child is a chance to invest in the future. A chance to love on the "least of these" (Matthew 25:40) and to bless the little children (Mark 10:15). 

Today that little boy who drives everyone crazy was so well behaved! He didn't throw a fit when a baby was playing with his favorite toy; he waited patiently while I talked to him and put his shoe on. He said please and thank you and took turns without screaming. When he was not listening he changed his behavior when I got down on his level and talked to him.  He even remembered my name!

 "Miss Molly!" He said outside, "please help me.", since he was too short to reach the monkey bars. "Miss Molly! Look!" He said with a big smile, proud of himself for filling a bucket with woodchips. And then he dumped it over his head.. Instead of yelling like usual, I calmly corrected his behavior and he said "sorry", which is a big deal for this kid!!! 

His mom was even pleased to hear a good report when she picked him up. :) 

All this to say, I would not have been this patient and loving toward this little boy if it weren't for the work of God in my life! Without Him I would be an impulsive, angry, selfish teacher. Before this little boy came in I read a children's book on David and Goliath earlier to another little boy. I got to teach him that whenever he's afraid he can trust that God will be with him!

Whenever I become afraid of teaching kids or my patience is wearing thin, God reminds me to trust him to lead through me. It's amazing how God shows up in my life through loving a child and reminding me of my favorite bible story! 

  It's as if God is saying "Look Miss Molly!" in order to get my attention in those moments. 

It's the little things God does in my day that are opportunities to show His love and patience to a person. And usually it'll be a person whom I cannot tolerate their behavior anymore, but forces me to trust God in that moment and ask for patience and love! Let those opportunities be a blessing and a privilege that I get to pour into their life. Those two little boys may never remember me as they grow up, but I pray they will know the Father's love for them through the way I loved on them briefly when they were young. 

"When I am afraid I will trust in You. In God's whose word I praise. In God I trust I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?" -Psalms 56:3-4 

In Christ, 

Molly Rae