Thank you for my fingers, toes and brain

I LOVE my Sunday School class not only for my love of teaching but for the wonderful children I get to interact with each Sunday morning.  While I look forward to the Sundays that I have 9 to 10 third through fifth graders in my classroom I get so much joy out of the one on ones I get every now and then.  The first twenty-five minutes of class yesterday happened to be a one on one with a young boy in my class who is autistic.

 

Danielle (Jalen’s cousin) and Jalen

 

From the moment I realized it was just the two of us, I knew the lesson needed to be revamped.  I wanted to cater to his learning style. I always ask my students to pray but I wasn’t so sure if Jalen would feel comfortable praying.  He looked at me with his sweet little third grade face and said, “I don’t know how but you can teach me.”  I reminded him that just like he talks to me he can talk to God. 

 

Jalen now had confidence about him and began to pray, “Father, thank you for making me.  Thanks for my fingers, toes.  Thanks for my legs and feet.  Thanks for my body.  Thanks for my brain.  Thanks for making my teacher.  That’s all.”  Tears welled up in my eyes during his prayer because I thought, “Oh how simple but profound that was.  He realized the importance of thanking God.”

 

What I love most about Jalen is how can connect one thought process to the next.  It’s so intriguing.  In our devotional time I was trying to teach him the scripture, “The Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.”  As we were breaking down each word and got to feet he gets a serious look on his face.  I was waiting for that bit of wisdom that likes to seep out.  He looks down at me and says, “I love your boots.”  We laughed and laughed about that.  In that moment I realized how much he loves feet. 

 

So, there happened to be a Dr. Seuss book all about feet inside of the desk.  I pulled it out to read. 

 

 And let me just tell you a little back story.  I went to school with Jalen’s mom, Rodnisha.  She came to me one       Sunday and said, “Jalen loves your class.  He asked me to teach him how to read so he can read the bible in class.” 

 

So…when I pulled the book out and started reading Jalen said, “Can I read?”  It caught me by surprise.  As I turned each page he read so eloquently.  The whole time I’m thinking, “How am I going to relate this foot book to the lesson?”  When my four girls came into class I thought for sure Jalen would stop reading.  He didn’t.  They sat down ever so quietly and Jalen continued reading to them.  He had such excitement in his voice.  I was so proud of him.

I love having students like Jalen in my classroom because it teaches me not only to be flexible but a quick listener to God and quick on my feet.