Show and Tell

I am very late blogging tonight because my husband and I both had a lot going on today to catch up on after we put the children to bed. When our conversation reached a point where he was trying to explain the 'cool physics' of an MRI machine to me, I decided it was time to retreat to blogging then get to bed. Seriously, you just cannot imagine the excitement of my sweet scientist explaining atoms, protons, neutrons and radio frequencies...Meanwhile, as hard as I tried, all I could hear was the old Charlie Brown teacher voice, "Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah."

For weeks I have intended to write about the trials and travails of our Thursday mornings as we prepare for Show and Tell. Trying to help the children find three separate, but equally cool, items that fit in a backpack, are not fragile and start with the letter of the week is quite an experience. Especially when you consider the temperamental tastes of my three year olds.

A few weeks ago, I forgot about Q until we were within 15 minutes of departure time. As I hit panic mode and found myself googling "preschool show-and-tell letter Q" I realized it would be a great public service to one day post a list if ideas from A-Z.

This week there was no letter, but the emphasis was on Easter. Over breakfast I asked the children what Easter-related thing they wanted to take for show and tell. R, who always wants to pick first, asked if he could take one of our 'wes-sa-wex-shun eggs.' As he perused the carton, I wondered which egg he would choose. I felt sure something like the dice, the donkey or the spear would be selected. Then he said, "I want the cross made out of nails." It was a precious moment that ended too quickly as K & P remembered the obnoxious, fluorescent, stuffed singing ducks and bunnies they received on their first Easter and begged to take them.

R's face fell. "Oh, I should take one of those. That's better."

I assured him that what he was taking was very special. As we were loading up the car, I prepared myself that he may very well change his mind about what to take. I reminded myself that they are only three. I don't want to cram Christianity down their throat. I want to present it day in and day out and allow God to woo them unto Himself. I was disappointed as I watched the lure of bright and shiny overshadow the less than glamorous truth of the holiday. But without expectation, I asked him one last time what he wanted and he said the cross and the egg. I reiterated how special his items were, because they represented what Easter was all about.

"Yeah," P said, "Easter is all about the eggs." Sigh.

When I went to pick them up this afternoon I was a bit early, so I went into their classroom. Their substitute teacher said, "You should have been here for Show and Tell today." My mind starting racing Oh No! He had a meltdown. They all must think I am a religious nut case making him bring this instead of a fun singing stuffed animal. I hope they know he picked it...

"What happened," I asked as I cringed, "Did he fall apart?"

"Oh, no. He actually did a beautiful job telling the whole Easter story to the class. He didn't leave out a detail. He even told them Jesus was wrapped in a linen cloth when he was put in the tomb."

I saw R in my peripheral vision, listening intently to our interchange. As I looked directly at him with a huge smile his little chest tripled its size. I love that precious little man!

I also love that our all-powerful, all-knowing, incredible God made the Gospel so simple and compelling that a three year old can get it--and that we, too, are called to show His love and tell the story.

A little child shall lead them...