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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Clarify (10/15/15)
Complicated Sunday school Memories

Attention Deficit kids possess a certain twisted perspective all their own. I know. I was one of them although I didn’t realize it at the time. The disorder hadn’t been discovered or diagnosed when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

My Sunday school teacher, who looked like a Cretaceous fossil to this eight year old, would present a typical bible story and breeze right through it with everyone else following along while I was stuck wrangling a point that didn’t make sense to me.

For example: the brides awaiting the groom. From my childhood perspective, they all had their lanterns lit. They all fell asleep. When the groom was on the way, (how did they know that anyway?) the wise brides trimmed their lanterns with extra oil they brought. Did they share with the brides who were “foolish” and had no extra oil? No way! They went off with the groom and shut the slackers out. No Christian sharing that day.

That didn’t sit right with me. I couldn’t believe all those ostracized brides were just naughty. Who knew why they didn’t possess extra oil. Maybe they were ADD? Maybe they had taken care of a sick relative that day and had no time to fend for themselves? The shopping donkey could have broken a leg for goodness sake. Why automatically blame it on laziness and assume they fell into spiritual lacking?

A little symbolic clarification at youngster-level might have made a world of difference to this soul… or maybe not.

I won’t go into the wine-skin story—not sure I ever figured that one out.
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This article has been read 568 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Judy Sauer 
10/23/15
I appreciate your honesty. You raise some interesting points-perspectives I never considered. Thanks for your entry.
Judy Sauer 
10/23/15
I appreciate your honesty. You raise some interesting points-perspectives I never considered. Thanks for your entry.
Donna Powers
10/23/15
This was both honest and adorable. Your ending was especially sweet. A nicely written article.
Janice Wappel
10/24/15
I guess we don't always know how a child views or understands a Bible story. I have not taught Sunday School for many years but I do have a grandson who asks a lot of questions. I will be careful how I answer!
Pat Small
10/25/15
who dreamed? the questions of a child with ADD go even beyond those without it
Larry Whittington
10/26/15
All Sunday School Teachers should read this, think and act wisely.

Well written personal experience.
Maretha Retief
10/28/15
This is a thought-provoking article and one that will not only make me think twice on how I explain a story to a child, but to any person for that matter. We often assume the perspective from which people receive a message and yet, in most cases many struggle with the messages that they hear.

Thank you for an inspiring piece.