Eucharisteo Day 24... goldfish crackers

Place these words on your hearts. 

Get them deep inside you. 

Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. 

Teach them to your children. 

Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; 

talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. 

-Deuteronomy 11:18-19 

This is me... eating goldfish crackers... circa 1973

I am thankful that my parents took me to Sunday School.

I remember a few key things about those early years... My teacher Miss Lois. Singing Jesus Loves Me. Listening to Bible stories told through flannel graph. Doing art projects with glitter. & sitting at a little table eating goldfish crackers. 

Oh those goldfish crackers... even today this many years later, I cannot say no to those delightfully cheesy things. My mama was a crazy organic eating foody (before that was cool). Her idea of a snack was an apple or a handful of carrot sticks. Hence, my standout memories of the goldfish crackers. 

When my own children were old enough for Sunday School, I couldn't wait for them to go. I'd come flying in with my hair on fire, one child hanging off my hip & the other one attached to my leg. I'd detach them from my body & leave them crying as I drug my exhausted, hungry soul to my own class. It was amazing to pick their little glitter-covered bodies up an hour later, my own soul renewed & them chatting away about what they learned, what they played, what they sang & what they ate. Well... well... well... sounds familiar right? 

Last year, I was praying about how I could best minister on Sunday morning at my church. I remembered those weary days when I was a young mom & felt God prompting to be Miss Lois at my church. This is a little out of character for me... mostly cause my Minnie Mouse voice tends to get little kids riled up & I am just about the worst disciplinarian,.. ever. 

I am so thankful that I just did it anyway. 

Sunday mornings are my favorite. I love every second with those little ones. I love when they come in all bright eyed & rip roaring ready to go. I love seeing their parents head back up the hall to their own classes. I love hanging out with my friend & co-teacher, 'Miss Bitz'. I love playing play dough & coloring crayons & doing puzzles & reading books & singing songs & handing out goldfish crackers. I love their sticky fingers & tight hugs & giggly voices. 

Most of all I love seeing how it comes full circle...

Yep... me again... coloring Jesus pictures... circa 1974

“Your children are the greatest gift God will give to you, and their souls the heaviest responsibility He will place in your hands. 

Take time with them, teach them to have faith in God. 

Be a person in whom they can have faith. 

When you are old, nothing else you've done will have mattered as much.”  

-Lisa Wingate