Vacation Bible School?

Today Beth and Parker enjoyed their last day of vacation bible school. It was a wonderful time had by all. I especially enjoyed the peace and quiet that I got for a little bit! Can't believe that, not only has school been out for two weeks, but now vacation bible school is already over too!

I loved attending vacation bible school when I was a kid. We always got pencils. I loved going so I could get a pencil. The bible stories were great. But I wanted a pencil. I also wanted the little bible pencil sharpener that came with it too.

The kids don't get pencils anymore. What happened to the pencils?

Vacation bible school is not like it was when I was a kid. Now that we go to a much larger church I think the whole idea of it is a lot more complicated. My kids don't go to just hear about the Lord, but now they have to be entertained. And they have to make nice with a whole bunch of kids they might not know.

I was a little surprised when Beth told me earlier this week when I picked her up that she was bored. "Are you really bored?" I asked, a little bewildered that she wasn't having the best time of her life. When I probed further, she said that there was a friend in her class that she had known when she attended preschool. This friend had told her that when they were in preschool she really didn't like her and wasn't her friend. I was a little taken aback. Wow, what vacation bible school spirit! I told her that there was no way her friend meant that and besides they hadn't even seen each other in years. I told her that no matter what her friend said to her that she should always be kind in spirit and tell her that she liked her anyway. I also knew that sometimes Beth could be hurtful with her words too and that we were still learning about respect and hurting each other feelings.

So today when I picked her up I asked her how it was. She assured me that it was a fun day. Great, I thought! When we were on our way home Beth mentioned her friend again. "Was she nice to you today?", I asked.

"Well, she told me that she wished I hadn't come to vacation bible school today, and she still wasn't my friend!"

I could feel the steam coming out of my ears! What harsh words for a 7-year-old to hear, at church of all places. I had to control my outbursts of anger, which then turned to complete sympathy for my child. Wow, I don't remember that happening to me in vacation bible school.

It was then that I felt an instant connection to her situation. I felt He was telling me that the trials I feel will be shared by those of the next generation. A gentle reminder that He should be glorified in all situations. It was a admonition that I should be teaching her diligently about these unexpected let downs, and perhaps expecting them myself.

My eyes then fell on my open Bible to the verses that I had just read this morning. "Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously. For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land." (Psalm 35:19,20)

Lord, thank you for not letting our enemies rejoice over us!



I still miss the pencils.