“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” Colossians 3:23

When I first discovered I liked working with children, I was seventeen and it was Vacation Bible School at my home church.

Mom dragged me there. She was in charge and she must have been desperate to get her angst-ridden, flighty, artistic son to “volunteer.” Can you call it volunteering? She said something about never letting me drive my car again if I didn’t help her with a good attitude. Sure, I could help her if it meant no wheels during prime dating season, but a good attitude? I thought she gave up on making me have one of those when I was twelve.

She was smart enough to put me in the recess time with the kids. If I was in charge of a lesson, I would have tried to twist it so it would be about how cool I was. That would have scarred the kids for life.

A couple of teens and me had recess duty. We were responsible for wearing the kids out with semi-organized games of kick ball, basketball and dodge ball. That worked for the first two days. Then to my delight, things fell apart.

It started when I bragged to a boy he couldn’t beat me in a race. He took up the challenge and encouraged his classmates. By Wednesday, the kids were yelling, “Get Kevin!” The whole VBS was after me. By Thursday, they figured out how to corral me. I was surrounded! The kids were all over me like a swarm of bees.

I loved every minute. I realized I could lead kids, even if it meant they were after my hide. I also realized it was fun being around little kids.

Today, it is my wife who volunteers me in the latest kid activity at church. I try to remember I am working for the Lord as I get to act like a lunatic for the kids. I hope God doesn’t mind. I’m guessing he’s okay with it.