As we work together to have our students and graduates lead lives of service, they say it’s vitally important that we “walk the talk” and share our own service stories. So I asked Mrs. Cooper to share one of hers.
My pastor thought I was crazy. I was a full-time journalist with no kids, yet I checked the box next to: LEAD TEACHER for Vacation Bible School. Was I sure I wanted to spend a week of my cherished vacation time with 18 second grade students making crosses out of popsicle sticks? Yes, I was sure. My fiancé thought I was crazy, too. I didn’t even like children – he reminded me. And this was going to cost us valuable camping time. That summer of 1988 showed me several things:
- I had not lost touch with my inner child
- I liked popsicles
- Jesus was right – the children really did have more faith than the twenty-somethings in my small group
The theme of VBS that year had to do with bugs - and I carted around many plastic bugs stamped with Bible verses. I showed them to my fiancé and said at least these bugs did not bite. I even memorized some of the verses. I bonded with one little boy who delighted in sticking out his tongue at me. My breakthrough moment with him was teaching him some fun gestures to do while the other students sang about loving the lamb of God.
I was sad when I left the church in Fresno California for one in New Jersey, and then one in Boise Idaho, and finally one in Vail. At each of those churches I signed up to serve in VBS. I doubt any of those second graders remember the crazy girl who taught them on those hot summer days. I know I played a very small part in their spiritual formation – but that is not why I signed up year after year. It turns out that serving those little guys ended up serving me.
And I would suggest played a role in Mrs. Cooper’s service to hundreds of VCHS students. Mrs. Cooper…lives of service.
