I grew up going to Sunday school. Since the age of 6--I went almost every Sunday morning. I sat in a classroom learning about God, Jesus, the Bible and all the many characters that were written about in that great big book. I heard glorious stories and I loved every minute of it. We sang songs about Jesus, colored pictures, played games and ate graham crackers--it was awesome.
My favorite song as a child was this one--
Jesus loves the little children
all the children of the world
read and yellow, black and white
they are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the children of the world
I believed it too. I believed the words in that song. He did love all the children of the world. And soon, God became my world. All my thoughts, feelings, emotions, and beliefs--were run by Him. Eventually, as I grew older and I began to read the Bible on my own, I again learned about His love for me and the whole wide world. He was my everything. And He still is.
My favorite parts of the Bible while growing up were the 10 commandments and the beatitudes. There weren't words written that held more meaning for me. Reading the very words spoken by Christ held such significance. They were and still are the words that I live by, or at least I try my very best to do so.
So, here I was in Sunday School--singing songs about God, reading words inspired by God and learning what it meant to be a real true born again, saved by grace follower of Christ. I had such child like faith--which is just what Jesus wanted. I was a good little girl.
As an adult in my 60's I now contemplate the words I sang and read and I wonder--do others who say they believe, really believe? Do they believe that Jesus loves ALL the little children of the world or just the ones that meet certain criteria? I'm just wondering. And the 10 commandments--do they believe those? ALL of them? Don't kill, steal, covet or commit adultery? Love your enemies, your neighbors etc? I wonder. Do they believe what Jesus taught?
I also question myself. Am I a peacemaker? Do I love my neighbor as myself? How about all those little children of the world? What am I doing about that? The older I get, the more I realize that I am not living up to the teachings that I was taught as a child. I believe that I need to do an overhaul in my spiritual life. I need to reread the above-mentioned items and maybe repent--just a little bit. Or maybe even more than that. Yes, that is exactly what I need to do. Especially now. Why now? Because I find myself feeling angry, depressed, despondent and overwhelmed in the world I now live in. I really don't want to be here anymore.
I want to live in a world where people are kind, tolerant, loving, helpful, caring, giving--not selfish, hateful and stingy. I want to live in a world where the Beatitudes and the commandments are real words to live by. I guess I want rainbows and sunshine. Who doesn't?
Right now I am in a place where I just want to be 6 years old again--singing songs about Jesus, hearing stories about Daniel and feeling safe. Maybe that's it. I just want to feel safe again. I want to sit on His lap, knowing that no matter what color my skin is, no matter which country I was born in, no matter who my parents are--He loves me anyway. And I love Him for that very reason.
Yep, I miss Sunday School. I miss the good ol' days--the days of my innocence and youth. I miss the days of not understanding discrimination, violence, hatred, and bigotry. I want to be a kid again. And I want to go back to Sunday School.
