"Their Story" - Sunnyside

Cards

My 4th and 5th graders this year are actually all 4th graders, and nearly all girls. Eleven girls and one boy today - who opted to stay with us since his twin sister was also there. Can you see the mass amount of pink?

So, things run a little differently then they did last year. Smaller (not as many kids 1st hour). Quieter. Stiller. And, much more interested in "projects."

This week, we filled out the review worksheet, went out to the hall to run/hop/skip/gallop two relays with the memory verse, and came back in to make cards for church staff while the other leader led them through the discussion questions. Next week, they've been promised an exploratory adventure to deliver the cards to their appropriate destinations.

Active? Yes. Comparatively? We all but laid down to take a nap.

We did, however, take a very familiar trip to get bandaids for a bloody knee. Because, even when no one falls, we still manage to somehow somehow draw blood. This year, however, there are two of us working with a single small group (myself and a high school senior), so the entire crew does not have to be drug along on every bandaid expedition.

But, I am in love with their hearts that would settle in and work so diligently on cards for people whom they have never met with jobs that they only barely understand. They are full of ideas for cards and cookies and canned food drives, simple "random acts of kindness" that they could use to serve others.

And, they're flat out funny.

Languages

(wrapping up the evening at the most recent 7:11 with a ping pong ball explosion)

Middle school ministry continues to be an adventure. One of my old youth pastors used to tell us that the most important question to any middle schooler was, "do you like me?" (With high schoolers tacking on an extra question at the end of, "do I like you?") Personally, I might translate the question to, "am I worth your attention?"

Of course, it is never rarely asked so straightforward as that. These are middle schoolers, after all, who still have many of the languages of childhood at their disposal, as well as most of the languages of adults. Not all of the languages happen at the same time, and it can take less than an instant to trigger a switch from one to another (also occasionally known as mood swings). But, all of the languages are there, and they are all asking essentially the same question. 

Sometimes they have polite words: "If I get in the octagon (gaga pit) will you get in too?" Am I worth enough for you to do something you're bad at just so that we can interact?

Sometimes they have conversational words: "I'm still sore from my football game yesterday." Am I worth the attention that it will take to finish this conversation?

Sometimes they have feeling words: "I hate it when the boys try to get the girls out [of the game]! It makes me so mad!" Am I worth your attention even when I am not perfect?

Sometimes they have commanding words: "You're playing next time!" Am I worth listening to, even when I can't find quite the 'right' words to ask for what I need? Will you give me your attention anyways?

Sometimes they have community words: "Then we grabbed our spoons and no one else noticed!" I had your attention there. I was worth it. Right?

Sometimes they have empathy words: "Is that kid alright?" Are we both worth the attention that it is going to take to resolve this situation?

Sometimes they have easily translatable actions: A kid who runs up, tags you, and runs away...wants to be chased. Am I worth dropping everything to follow? Am I worth a moment of your full attention?

Sometimes they have body language: Eyes that turn around and spark at you...want to know if you just saw/heard what they did. I am worth the attention that it takes to notice things when they happen?

Sometimes they have behaviors: [which is teacher speak for, "this child is not doing what those in charge think they should be doing"] If I don't have the words, or even the direct actions that I need to communicate, am I still worth enough of your attention for you to try to understand what I want to say?

And, from at least one child a week, there are brief tears of pain or frustration that somehow manage to be both genuine and a question: What about NOW? When I am hurt, are you still going to stay here? Am I still worth your attention?

The trick seems to be remembering to listen to all of their languages.