Once a week, our family spends the evening at our church doing AWANA. Everyone participates, from Commander Daddy to Cubbie-in-Training Joe. I have had the wonderful experience of being a kindergarten Spark leader wih my sis this year. I like five year olds! Old enough to understand what you want them to do, young enough that they won't talk back (much).  They do have their difficulties though: more inclined to tears than the older kids, slightly more whiny, and they haven't yet learned to potty BEFORE club.  All of this is totally worth it though, because they are so trusting and adoring.  I think I must be a Sparks leader for truly selfish reasons. I know of no other people that will love you as unconditionally as children.

This month, our AWANA club headed up to a neighboring town to play at the annual game day. I have been helping to coach the Sparks team (5yo-7yo)  this year, so my weekends over the last month have been filled with practices.  Our team worked very hard and we took third place. I am looking forward to having empty Saturdays again, but I am glad I had the opportunity to spend some extra time wih these precious little ones.

My family gave a ride to two of our club's Sparky boys. One of them is in my kindergarten group and has been a huge handful. It isn't that he is absolutely horrible,  just a  typical five-year-old boy with a ton of energy.  At the beginning of the year I was convinced that every word I said was in one ear and out the other.  I have been greatly encouraged to find that once a concept is learned, he remembers it.  The problem is getting him to sit still and stop talking long enough for me to get the concept in his head.

During the two hour drive, he was amazingly well behaved. I do not know that I have ever seen him sit so quietly for so long! Once we arrived and started to begin the games though, it was clear that sitting calmly was a thing of the past. I explained to all the kids that we need to sit  with our toes behind the color line. Instantly, two tennis shoes jutted over the line. His face was lit up with a grin, the one he uses when he is telling a joke,  or when he is testing the limits of my patience.  Yet again, I was reminded why God gave little boys such gorgeous eyes. 

After dealing with this episode in defiance, I joined the other coaches to pray (can you guess what I prayed about?)   then returned to find him on his tummy, feet in the air, using his hands to spin himself in circles.  God had answered my prayer for patience by giving me ample opportunity to work on it.

By the time we had finished the opening ceremonies, I was wondering  if his behavior was leveling off at over-active, or if it was just going to continue to escalate through all of the games.  We sat down to listen to the Gospel presentation from the missionary. Did you know that it is possible to jump up and down without ever leaving the ground? It is.

As part of the message the missionary asked the clubbers various questions about the verses and Biblical truths they have been learning throughout the year.  Afer asking what holiday it is that we will be celebrating soon (Easter!) and what it is that we celebrate on that day (Jesus!), he asked "What did Jesus do?" Someone answered that He died on the cross.  Next question; "What happened after he was dead three days?"  My little Sparky raised his hand and stood up to answer before I could stop him. I was frantically thinking "He doesn't know! We haven't talked about it much in council time yet, only book time while he is running in circles not listening to a word I say! He is going to be so upset when he doesn't  know the answer!"  To my shock, he answered "He came alive again!"

Four words. When my Sparky was told that that was the right answer, he spun around and flashed me that grin.  His eyes were sparkling as he sat down to listen to the rest of the message. Yes, he actually listened. Not long afterward he again started spinning on his bottom, but I know that he will not soon forget the truth that Jesus was dead and that He came alive again. Just a tiny moment, just one more seed planted aside so many others.  I pray that by the Lord's grace these seeds will be carefully watered and tended and caused to grow, and that my Sparky will come to a true understanding of salvation in the proper time.  For now, I continue planting, and trying not to laugh when he is naughty,  and enjoying every minute of his sweetness!