It’s Sunday here in the islands and for me, it’s back to the weekend routine, beginning with teaching the pre-school through first grade Sunday School class at the Island Memorial Chapel. It felt good to be back in class with the kids. Even though some Sundays I just want to stay in bed and not have to go anywhere (especially since our Sunday comes right after a work day instead of after a weekend day like everyone else in the world), I am always blessed by the precious hearts and minds God has charged me with teaching about Him each week. They help me keep my faith childlike by reminding me what that means through their words and actions in class.
I am amazed at their unquestioning trust in the words of God and faith in the stories of the Bible. The best part is that there’s no judgment of each other; there’s no hypocritical behavior because they haven’t learned how to be anything less than completely honest and genuine yet. So many of God’s genuine and wonderful children are turned off to church and to getting to know more about God as they grow into adulthood because of hypocritical, extreme Christians who do not seem to comprehend that being a child of God means loving everyone the way He does. God does not push Himself on anyone. He simply loves them to the point that they cannot help but come to Him and the peace He provides. Why do many churches and church goers feel they have to push God on others? Why do some believe they have to judge non-believers or even just non church-goers and point out their judgment in order to “win” them over to a higher power?
A long time ago I had to learn to not let those who insist on judging me affect my walk with God and my faith. I had to learn to lean only on God, remembering that He is the only one I need to answer to, and if I know I am right with Him, that’s all that really matters, not what anyone else thinks or believes about me. With that understanding, I attempt to treat others with that same respect and unconditional love. I am not perfect in my walk as no human being is, but I do know this: only God fully knows a person’s heart, and He has tasked me with one thing and one thing alone, loving others and treating them with the same kindness and grace He always affords to me.
To be honest, having this one task and no more, takes so much pressure off of me. I don’t want God’s job. I don’t want to be the final judge over everyone’s actions. I just want to enjoy the life God had blessed me with and live it to the fullest with His peace and guidance along the way. That’s how the kids in my Sunday school live, enjoying every little thing in life from “popcorn parties” and “munching math,” which are two of the most exciting events at school in my first grader’s life right now, to loving their parents, siblings, family, and friends unconditionally, even when we get upset with each other, don’t treat each other right, make mistakes. Children love you anyway, no judgment, no criticism. I learn more from the kids in my Sunday school class each week than my little friends will ever know, and all I can do is hope and pray that God will bless them with a child like faith for the rest of their lives, so they can truly live life to the fullest and show others the wonder of a healthy relationship with God simply by how they live, not by what they try to make others believe and certainly not by judging them and making them feel less than worthy of God’s amazing love.
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