Resilience doesn’t happen by accident.
By Susie Barkdoll
Walking from school to the host church for Bible Adventure last week, I noticed that *Blaine was teary eyed and upset. When I asked if he wanted to share why he was sad, he quickly explained that he was sad because his friend brought cupcakes to school to share with the entire class that day. He was looking forward to choosing a chocolate cupcake all day long.
When he was called to leave for Bible Adventure (BA), his teacher told him that he wouldn’t have time to eat a cupcake before leaving nor would he have time after BA. Blaine is the only student in his class currently enrolled in Bible Adventure and thus was singled out. Blaine was forced to make a hard choice between staying in class and having a cupcake, or leaving class, giving up the cupcake and coming to BA. Blaine thought about which he wanted more, the cupcake or coming to Bible Adventure.
Children engaging during listening time at Fayettville Bible Adventure.
In the end, he chose to come to Bible Adventure because he loves learning about God. He said he wanted to learn about God more than he wanted to eat his favorite cupcake with his classmates, one of which was his friend who brought the cupcakes in to share. Blaine took a stand, and in doing so, he stood alone when it would have been much easier to sit down and stay with his class.
I encouraged him by saying that what he did was a great example of doing what’s right even when it is hard. I explained that God noticed him giving up something that he really wanted in order to stand with Him. I further explained that, that is always the right choice. What an example of resilience displayed by Blaine, a third grade student in his first year of Bible Adventure.
*Not his real name
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