When I was preparing my Sunday school lesson for this past Sunday, I thought it would be a great idea to visually represent the significant events of Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday in the form of a child-friendly calendar. Since the lesson was about Palm Sunday, I felt like this visual would be the perfect introduction. So I set about creating a fun calendar with clip art, bright spring colors, and fun fonts to include in my weekly PowerPoint presentation. I was happy with my work until about 8:50 am on Sunday.

I logged on to Zoom a few minutes early as usual, just to get everything set up. Video? Check! Audio? Check! Screen share? Check! But as I was looking at the Holy Week calendar, it just didn’t feel like the good idea it had been earlier in the week. The last time the kids and I were together for Sunday school was an impossibly long year ago. And in that moment – in the few minutes I had before welcoming the kids on screen – it felt so much more important to acknowledge the past year and to invite the kids to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. And as has happened many times since we started meeting online for Sunday school, I was overwhelmed by the responses that were shared.

I asked them to think about three questions: 1) What has been the hardest part of this year? 2) What has surprised you about this year? 3) What are you looking forward to most this summer? Are you ready to take a peek into some amazing hearts and minds?

“It’s been hard doing online school. I know it’s for our safety, but it’s just not the same.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting new friends this summer.”

“I’m looking forward to when the pandemic is over.”

“I was surprised that I like (aquarium-type) fish so much.”

“Online school technology was hard at first, but I learned how to make it work.”

“I was surprised we got a dog during such a sad time, but he makes us so happy.”

“I’m looking forward to playing outside without having to think about physical distance and wearing masks.”

Friends, I think all of us can relate to what was shared on Sunday. Many of us have had to learn how to make technology work – and it was hard in the beginning. And aren’t we all looking forward to not worrying about keeping our distance and wearing masks? And while we all didn’t get dogs in the past year, I bet most of us have experienced a surprising bright spot in the midst of our sorrow and pain. I bet you can see yourself in each of these statements in one way or another.

The end of this long, dark tunnel is in sight. And leave it to some incredible kids to speak courageous truths that can remind us of where we’ve been and where we are going. 

Katy Allen