Children are Loving
This is the first important fact we need to recognize. Children are created to love and be loved - especially "to love". I've never met a child who doesn't love. They love their dog, their neighbour, their mom, their stuffy, their car - and even their "girlfriend" or "boyfriend". They want to show their love by giving someone a candy, a cookie, and even a kiss! So loving.
Understanding this, I am challenged to use this personality and character of a child to train them to love the way Jesus wants them to love. One way to teach them to use their loving gesture is to:
- Help open the door for a senior or the person behind them.
- Put dirty dishes in the sink and make sure that all leftovers go inside the organic bin :)
- Say "Thank You" when someone does a good thing for them and "You're welcome" when someone expresses their gratitude.
- Pray for someone they know who is sick or struggling.
- Instead of laughing at their friend who just fell, they can help them stand and check whether their friend is hurt.
What else do you think children can do to show others that they are loving?
Children are Creative
What I love about children is their creativity. Most of the times, we have to be more creative than them because our creativity might not be creative for them. When we begin to see their creativity, we get to help them use it within our ministry. They can give us ideas on what kind of craft we can do next. This is one way to involve them in a ministry and from my experience, kids are excited to show their friends their crafty ideas!
Some ways to encourage them in this area:
- Have them create something unique from home and bring them to church on Sunday. Let them do the storytelling.
- If they are older kids, have them help younger kids to color or glue their craft.
- When kids are brave enough, they can even open up a stand and teach the adults some interesting and unique arts!
Children are Fun
Their laughter is contagious. Their laughter is funny. Their laughter is joyous. No matter what their age is, kids know how to laugh. They know how to have fun. There are times when I notice that my kids are bored at home. Sometimes they just come to me and complain "I'm bored!" When this happens, I usually challenge them and ask them to think of something. It often takes them a while to finally find something fun. Eventually, once they are challenged, they know how to have fun and not get bored anymore.
Some proofs that they can have fun:
Pillow fights with siblings or parents
Play family charades and board games
Hide and seek with younger siblings
Children don't necessary need video games to keep them entertained. They only need one or two people to have fun. In church setting, we can use their playful energy to have fun with other children. And that is ministry!
Children Pray Earnestly
Have you ever heard a little girl pray? I have and she was so cute! I remember one day I witnessed a 5 year old girl pray. In her simple, yet meaningful prayer, she said, "Thank You, God, for a beautiful day. Thank You for the flowers out there so the bees can eat. Thank You for my mom and dad. Thank You also for all the fruits and veggies. I love to eat them. Bless them all. In Jesus' Name. Amen." As an adult, I don't think I would ever thank God for fruits and veggies because in my opinion, it's not that "important". To this girl, it is important because that's all she can think of.
This simple prayer can be a tool in ministry. Kids can teach kids how to say a simple prayer, yet meaningful. Through children, we witness that God doesn't need long prayers. He just needs a prayer that comes from the heart.
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