Play! Listen! Talk!

Our pastor’s wife presented the Children’s Message in church on Sunday morning. Since it was Fathers’ Day, she first invited the children to share things their fathers are good at, Answers included “running,” “fixing things,” “making cookies” and “giving hugs.” A great start!

Next she asked the children to tell something their dads do when they go to work. This seemed a bit more of a challenge, with some vague answers like “work,” “go to the office” and “use a computer.” But then one child said “saves babies’ lives,” and it seemed like no one thought they could give a better answer than that!

Then the children were asked to think of other men in our church who were also like fathers to them--men who had helped them, taught them, or showed kindness to them. “Who are some men you know in our church who are like that?” she asked. Almost in unison, the shout went up, “Lyle!” And the congregation cheered.

Lyle is a great big burly guy who doesn’t teach Sunday School, nor does he work in other children’s programs. Lyle is a Greeter! He welcomes people as they arrive to church; and in particular he welcomes the children. I’ve seen other greeters who would reach their hand over a child’s head to shake hands with a mom or dad or hand them a bulletin, almost as though the child was invisible. Lyle greets the children by name. He gives them high fives and fist bumps, always accompanied by a huge smile and a big laugh. Lyle makes each child feel special and welcome.

Sometimes I wonder if maybe the welcomes that Lyle gives outside the front doors of the church might even be more effective in influencing our children than the lessons we prepare and present in class. Fortunately, it’s not an either/or situation! God provides the Gifts that are needed in the Body; some of us are teachers and then there’s Lyle, the Greeter. And we're all given the privilege of communicating God’s big, wide accepting love to every child.