by Kala Loptien

Kindergarten Peacemaking

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

My daughter’s class has a Bible verse they’ve memorized, tied to each letter of the alphabet. She recited her beautiful Bible verse alphabet to us the other day, hardly missing a beat. What incredible minds and memories children have. I noticed her first two verses correlate nicely.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1 English Standard Version 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 

Matt 5:9 ESV

The best part about writing these words upon their hearts is that they practice using them in context. Her teacher, a soft-spoken – kind, compassionate “legend” in the elementary world – points to verses often during conflict resolution. One day, my daughter was giving me the rundown on recess (per usual). Early in the year, it was common to hear about someone yelling across the playground: “I’m never gonna be friends with you again!” She knows by now I always respond with something like, “How sad. What did you do?” One day, she said, “Well, I thought in my head: ‘A soft answer turneth away wrath.'” That pause and reflection on those words, pressed upon her heart, caused her to respond gently. And wouldn’t you know it? The result was a reconciliation moment.

It’s sad to think that we can so quickly lose that innocence — that genuine and primary understanding of our faith and how God instructs us to respond to situations. I see why Jesus encourages us to become like children. We grow up and become jaded by a busy, angry, materialistic and petty world. We have “playground” moments as adults; annnnnd, we often overreact in the moment. Too tired. Too stressed. Overworked. Overindulged. If only we could be like little children again…

There’s hope. Always. We can re-press those words upon our hearts daily. We can ensure they are a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We can turn to the Good Book that provides us with daily instruction and put it into practice. Isn’t it funny that though we are to train up children; we often find ourselves learning from them?

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO