For what is having to do with dead canvas
or cold marble compared with
having to do with the living body,
the temple of God's spirit"

Florence Nightingale
1867

teaching gr.3 & 4s for pioneer club on friday nights...
it's definately exhausting and i wonder if any of them actually takes to heart what i say to them...
when i try to teach or explain things from the Bible, most are either doodling away or whispering a convo with their neighbor or even playing games with string.  My instinct from previous experiences in working with children is to make sure they know who has the authority and to discipline those who undermine that authority, but i have a reluctance to do that in this case.  I guess i can't expect their undivided attention as they've just had a week of school and all they would rather do on a friday night is play and chill with friends.  Plus, their normal attention span is only about 10 min anyways, so i guess with all things considered they were pretty well behaved.  Punishing them would be so cruel.  I think i'm just not making things interesting enough.

I always thought i had a gift with children, that i could handle and relate to them better than most, but i know now that it was just my ego talking.  Self perception and deception...silly foolish lil' ol' me
oh Lord pls grant me wisdom, humility, stamina, patience, and most importantly love!

Reading a book Josh left me, John Ortberg's Everyone's Normal Till You Get to Know Them, when i have time and mulling over some of his points on the self and community building from a Christian perspective.  I need to work on being a mat carrier, someone who is transparent, and someone who doesn't throw stones.....if you don't know what i mean...go read the book

hmm.....just realized today that i haven't had a good laugh since school started.  So note to self: Must laugh and chuckle more often!  Laughter is the best medicine and "one who laughs, lasts." haha


~peace