Devotions

One of the great joys of my life these days is teaching fourth grade Sunday school. Having been trained as a high school English teacher, and having spent a portion of my career teaching in college and business settings as well, I refused for years to consider teaching anyone below ninth grade.

When my younger daughter began teaching fourth grade Sunday school a few years back, however, I first filled in as her helper, then her substitute, then her co-teacher. By the time she finally took herself off to college last fall, I was hooked…on the exuberance, the innocence, the sometimes outlandish perspectives, and the genuine insights that pour from 9- and 10-year-old minds when confronted with the stories of faith.

So here I am tonight, preparing tomorrow's lesson on Jesus the Good Shepherd, wondering how their new eyes will see what I first memorized in Miss Ruth's second grade Sunday school class. We've talked so often about Jesus as the Lamb of God, how will they relate that idea to this new one, that we're the sheep and Jesus the shepherd? Will their young suburban minds be stuck on images of perfectly groomed petting-farm lambs, or will they segue to ranch life as they know it from the movies? Will my budding veterinarians (I have at least two in the class) lead us slightly sideways into the world of caring for all God's creatures?

The great joy of teaching fourth grade Sunday school is that I'm never quite sure where the day's lesson will wind up. I do know, though, that by tomorrow afternoon, I'll have thought about this most familiar of all Old Testament passages with a whole new sense of wonder and a better appreciation of what it means to be part of Jesus' flock.