Introduction to Sunday School | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Introduction to Sunday School | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kristen Grieser
10/31/07
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“No Mommy! Wanna stay with you and Daddy!”
Abby tried to close her ears to the wails of her nearly three-year-old son as she turned him over to the care of the Sunday School teachers.
“Don’t worry about him. He’ll be fine after a few minutes.” The woman, whose nametag read “Stephanie,” smiled. “We get kids who have been coming here since they were babies and have lots of friends that still cry at times when they’re dropped off. Jake will be fine.”
“I hope so,” Abby replied, not completely convinced. Nonetheless, with Nathan waiting behind her, she kissed Jake and gently pulled his arms away from her. “Have a good time, big guy. Daddy and I will be back when church is over.”
“We’ll be back before you know it Jake,” Nathan assured the little boy and ruffled his hair. “Bye.”
Abby felt Nathan gently but firmly take her arm and lead her toward the sanctuary. She could still hear Jake crying with the classroom door closed.
“He’ll be fine,” Nathan said. “It will be good for him to spend time with a bunch of other kids. Besides, I’m sure he’ll come back to us having learned a thing or two.”
“I hope so,” Abby said again. This was their first time at the new church, having just moved to town a few weeks ago. Their previous church had a family room and Abby usually took Jake there during the services so he could play and she could watch the service on the television. There were always other parents with children and Jake usually found someone to play with. However, Nathan had been urging her for a long time to put Jake in one of the classes so they could enjoy the service together. Abby had tried to push aside the nagging feeling that he was right—that she wasn’t getting much out of going to church when she was always paying attention to Jake—and she had succeeded for a while. But now, this new church didn’t have a family room and she knew Jake would still want to run and jump around, so, out of necessity, she gave in.
Now, with the service started, the music playing and people greeting them every way they turned, Abby had to admit she was enjoying herself. It was nice to sit back and not have to watch where Jake was. She listened with interest as the pastor began his message and realized guiltily that she couldn’t remember the last time she had really paid attention to a pastor’s message. She had tried, but was always watching Jake.
“Okay, okay, you were right,” she whispered to Nathan. “Happy now?”
Nathan simply grinned.
When the service was over, a few more people said hello and welcomed Nathan and Abby. One couple, as it turned out, had a three-year-old in the Sunday School class. “Trevor loves it,” the mother told Abby. “He cried the first day we left him there, but now, he barely even notices when we drop him off. He pretty much takes himself there!”
Her words gave Abby comfort and suddenly she didn’t feel so bad about leaving Jake in the class. When they arrived at the classroom, Stephanie greeted Abby and Nathan. “Jake did very well today! He cried for a few minutes and wanted to be alone, but then one of the other boys approached him with a toy and wanted him to play. He was just fine after that. He was very interested when we read about Noah and the Ark.”
“You couldn’t have picked a better story,” Nathan said with a smile. “That’s one of his favorites.”
Just then Jake looked up and saw them. “Mommy, Daddy!” he exclaimed, running over to them. “School fun! Come back tomorrow?”
Abby and Nathan looked at each other and laughed.

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