She was tiny being only 5 years old but even more so when compared to her peers. Perhaps because of her size, she appeared to be shy and initially did not seem to mix comfortable with others in her new neighborhood. She now lived with her grandparents, and the family was new to the community even new to the nearby church.
Her aging grandparents realized that they were of another generation and that the dear one needed to be involved with others her age so they were happy to be invited to have Sue, an assumed name, spend several days having an opportunity of mixing with other preschoolers at a local Vacation Bible School. Yet they had some reservations about how successful this might be.
It was not easy that morning for them to turn away from her when the time came for the Bible School to begin, but it would only be for a brief time so reluctantly they walked the short distance to their home in the neighborhood and waited anxiously for dismissal time. When they did return they arrived with some concerns about Sue’s opinion of how the day progressed. After all she was in an unfamiliar environment and just a child. What would she say?
They were not disappointed even from the very first moment when Sue came running to their arms after dismissal.
She could hardly get the words out fast enough to tell her grandparents all the exciting things she had done and especially all the people she had met including the ‘nice’ teachers who made her feel at home in a class of strangers. She was so busy talking she did not notice the big smile on the faces of her grandparents, pleased that she had found new interests and even more so, important new friends. The Bible School lasted several days and as the week progressed so did her tales of how much fun she had had and about a new friend she had heard about in the school: Jesus.
Then the day came when the grandparents braced themselves for the ultimate test of separation from their little Sue. The first day of real school arrived and another new experience for one so little but this time in a far bigger “world” than she had experiences at Bible School. But interestingly enough, the anxiety level was not so much shown by her as by her grandparents. When they looked around, everything seemed so big and so different from what they recalled when they entered school that very first day. How would Sue react?
The afternoon dismissal bell finally rang and the grandparents were there anxiously waiting for Sue with her report of her first day at school. They had hoped it would have been as rewarding as was Bible School, but this was a far different experience. Yet they worried although needlessly as it turned out.
When Sue ran to get into the car it was evident she was delighted by her first day at school. She did not wait to be asked; she wanted to tell her grandparents about her memorable day. Then she said something that surprised the two adults who adored her but who were naturally slightly worried about their little one and had expressed such to her.
“Granny,” she said, “you had no need to worry about me today. I now have another friend who loves me like you do. He is always by my side. I learned about Him in Bible school. His name is Jesus.”
Their worries for Sue were lessened considerably that first day of school. It was indeed a day to give thanks.
Out of the mouth of babes…
*
Bill Lee
PO Box 128
Hamer, SC 29547