Play! Listen! Talk!

Have you ever been totally prepared for Sunday School and instead of the usual numbers you were expecting, only one child showed up? What did you do? Teach your class anyway? Was it worth it?

Well, that was my experience today! My husband and I had a story about Jesus ready to tell, a game to play (tossing beanbags onto paper-plate faces), play dough objects to make and lots of pretend kitchen toys. We were all set to play, listen and talk about being thankful for the good things God gives us—just like the one man who came back to thank Jesus after being healed of leprosy. But it was one of those Sundays when many families were gone on our annual church retreat, so we had one preschooler—Zoey—who came to class. Zoey’s mom offered to keep her in church, but Zoey chose to come play with us. And so we started in: Sunday School for One!

We told the Bible story, we tossed beanbags, we “cooked” and served chicken and hot chocolate in our pretend kitchen, and we talked about thanking Jesus. Tonight as I asked myself, “Was it worth it?” I realized that every week Sunday School is about the one child. Even when the room is full, it’s about each individual child. So I hope Zoey enjoyed Sunday School for One today (I know I did!), and I hope that in the middle of lots of kids and lots of activity, I remember to look for ways to connect with each one.