Deborah Laforet 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26

December 31, 2006 Luke 2:41-52

“Exceptional Children”

Every June, the Centre for Christian Studies, which is in Winnipeg, and where I take my theological training, offers a course called the Leadership Development Module, or the LDM. It was my first introduction to the Centre and their educational model. The LDM covers a variety of areas. Students study theology, group dynamics, facilitation skills, learning styles, personality indicators, and a lot about themselves. Before we left for Winnipeg, we were asked to fill out tests that assessed our personality, our learning styles, and how we handle conflict. It was all very interesting, but it didn’t mean much until we all gathered together and compared the results. It was amazing to see how different we were.

One of the reasons we did these tests though is not so that we could be labeled as an introvert or extrovert, or as someone who is a visual learner or a hands-on learner. We took the tests so that we could see how we are all different. We all have different personalities and we all learn differently. This was the beginning of a major learning for me. Now, whenever I lead worship or a study group, I try and remember how some people are visual learners, some like lectures, and others need to be doing something tangible. Some learn with music, some with art, and still others learn best when it relates to their own personal experiences.

I’ve also noticed that I need to mostly be sensitive to the difference in children. Unfortunately, we have a school system that tends to work best when all students learn the same way, but we know from studies that they do not. There are so many students left behind or who struggle through school, not because they aren’t bright and intelligent, but because their needs cannot be met in the current educational system.

Some children are labeled with a learning disability. Unfortunately, these children need this label in order to get the help they need. They can sometimes be very bright children, but they struggle. There are other children who are labeled as behavior problems. Again, these children are not understood and instead of trying to accommodate them, they are disciplined constantly and treated without respect.

Today, Jeff read two scripture passages about two exceptional children. Samuel and Jesus both grew up to be men who changed the world. What were they like as children? Were they different from the other children around them? Did their parents and teachers treat them differently? Did they grow up knowing they were different? Were they celebrated for their difference or treated as outcasts?

Both Samuel and Jesus had exceptional beginnings. Samuel’s mother, Hannah, was barren. In that day and age, if a married woman was barren, she had no status. It was also seen as a punishment from God, so with that in mind, Hannah went right to the source. When her family went to Jerusalem for the yearly pilgrimage, she went to the temple and begged God for a child. In fact, she promised God that if she were to become pregnant that she would give the child back in service to God, meaning that at a young age, the child would be given to the temple to be raised as a temple priest. Some theologians believed that since Hannah was so willing to give up her child, that she really only wanted a child for the status that came with being a mother. Other theologians are of a different opinion. They cite many instances where the first-born animal or part of the first harvest are offered to God in hopes that one would continue to be fruitful. Hannah probably hoped that after one child, others would follow, which they did. Hannah was blessed with five children after Samuel.

After Samuel was old enough, maybe three or four, Hannah brought the child to Eli at the temple, and he grew up in the temple in service to God. Hannah never forgot her son. Every year, she would make him a robe. It was the one thing she was probably allowed to do.

Jesus’ mother, Mary, really needs no introduction. She is best known for conceiving a child by God. Although, Mary was not asked to place Jesus in a temple as a child, she knew from the start that her son would be exceptional. She didn’t quite know what that would mean, but she knew her son would grow to be an important person.

So, with these auspicious beginnings, we have two boys. One born of a barren woman, blessed by God, and the other conceived out of wedlock and destined by the angels to be a saviour.

In next week’s lectionary reading, we will hear the story of Samuel’s calling as a child. God called his name in the middle of the night three times. The first two times Samuel went to Eli because he thought Eli was calling him. Did Eli laugh at Samuel? Did Eli set up a night light and reassure Samuel that what he was hearing was just the wind? Did he chastise Samuel for continually getting out of bed? No. Eli was probably a bit confused at first. Who wouldn’t be when someone is waking you up in the middle of a deep sleep and asking, “Did you call me?” Eli tells Samuel to listen. Eli tells Samuel that God is calling; listen to what God has to say. Eli listened to what Samuel had to say.

How many times do our children come and wake us in the middle of the night? How many times do we tell our children to go back to bed or that what they are seeing or hearing is not real? What do we tell our children when we are tired and frustrated? When we don’t believe they actually see or hear anything? How do we know they don’t? As adults, we have had many experiences growing up of being told to ignore things that can’t possibly be there. Do you remember? After being told this by our elders, when do we begin to believe it? When do we stop hearing God? When do we stop listening for God? Children need more than hugs and kisses to feel loved. Children need direction and guidance, but they also need respect and to feel that they are valued and heard. When we tell a child that we don’t want to hear what they have to say or we don’t believe what they say, what message are we giving? When we make decisions that affect a child without involving them in the decision in some way, does that child feel like her or his thoughts and feelings are valued?

Let’s talk about Jesus. How did Mary and Joseph raise this special child? The story we heard today from the gospel of Luke is the only story we have of Jesus as a child. The other gospels skip from the infant to the man who is baptized. It is the only story that gives us a glimpse of Jesus as a young person. Jesus was twelve years old. Scholars think it would have been the year before he was considered a man, before his bar mitzvah. So, he wasn’t a man at this stage, but he wasn’t really a child anymore either. This would be a story that most teenagers could probably relate to. We could ask them, when did you start to pull away from your parents? When did you feel that it was time to make your own decisions? Most parents would probably agree that whenever that was, it was too soon.

In this story, the family from Nazareth, and the whole village, were returning home from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A day into the journey, Mary and Joseph realize that Jesus is not at hand. Because of the size of the group returning to Nazareth, they probably assumed that he was in the crowd somewhere, probably with his young friends. They ask around, and when they still can’t find him, decide that they must return to Jerusalem. At this point, they are beginning to panic. After three days of searching for Jesus, not knowing where he is or whether he is safe, they finally find him in the temple. He’s not hurt, he doesn’t seem to be frightened. In fact, he seems to be having a good time with the temple priests. They are deep in conversation. Mary’s first reaction is disbelief, “Jesus, why would you do this to us?” I have to admit that Jesus’ response would not have comforted me. He seems to say, “After twelve years, don’t you know me? Of course, I would be here. Where else?”

OK. I will put myself in Mary’s shoes, and by now, I may be quite upset. I look around though and see that we are in a temple and in front of the temple priests. So, I might take a deep breath, tell Jesus that we need to return to Nazareth, now, and ask Joseph to wait with Jesus, and I might walk outside to get control of my emotions. After all, Joseph and I have walked for three days looking for our twelve-year-old son, lost in the big city, and maybe laying in the street somewhere. Of course, now that I think about it, I do know Jesus. I do know how important the temple is to him and I also know that he is old enough now to take care of himself. After all, he is only a year short of manhood.

Children, like adults, usually have motives behind their actions. They are usually not disobeying or doing things they shouldn’t because they want to make you angry, or because they want to get punished, or because they are willful, or because they are just bad children. It’s up to us, as adults, to find out what lies behind the actions. It is up to us to support our children and meet their needs. Our children do need us. Even as they get older and they want to be independent, they still require our unconditional love and respect.

Especially those children who don’t fit the mold. Those children who defy logic, our logic of course. Those children who think differently and may behave differently. Those children who don’t fit in, and most of all, need us to try and understand. Even if we don’t ever understand, I think the fact that we try is what’s important. As parents, as a church, and as a community, we have a responsibility to our children. The children expect it of us, and it’s a huge disappointment and hurtful to those children and to our communities when we don’t fulfill that responsibility.

I think that as a church, we can set an example for our community. Let’s put our heads together. How can we, as a church community, show the children that they are valued? How can we show our children, or anyone for that matter, that they are important to us? When we encounter a child who is viewed as different, sometimes the philosophy is that they all still need to be treated the same. I do agree that all children need to be loved the same, but treating all children the same does not take into account their differences. Maybe some children need more attention and guidance than others. Maybe some children can be over-stimulated. Maybe some children need more one-on-one attention, and maybe others just need to know that they are not invisible. So, let’s put our heads together. Let’s ask ourselves: How can I assist in Sunday School? Do I feel called to the Christian Development Committee? Could I talk to a staff person and explore how I might show the children that they are valuable to me? Could I be a mentor? There are so many possibilities. Let’s put our heads together. Let’s discover ways of showing the children that we love them and value them.

There is a song that I love to sing by Linnea Good. She sings, Children help your grownups and show them the way. We’ll take steps together and we’ll learn everyday. If someone tries to tell you that you’re just too small, you just tell them that it’s Jesus who gave you the call. And in Jesus’ words, Let the children come to me, for that’s what heaven is made of.

Amen.

Children’s activities

http://www.higherpraise.com/pdf/New/Curr172.pdf