During a conversation with kindergartners about intercession and petition I asked, "Why, if God loves us as you have said, and knows us and knows what we need AND how to give it to us--why then do we need to pray for ourselves and one another?" (I was very honestly asking this question of the students, because it has puzzled me for years!)

One answered, "We pray because we need something from God: love."

During a presentation with a kindergarten class of the Pearl of Great Price I asked, "Why would Jesus be telling us this story?" Violet answered, "I think I know. Jesus was telling us that we're going to get to give everything for the Pearl of Heaven. " I asked her what the pearl of heaven was. She answered, "God's love." I really enjoyed her choice of words: We're going to GET TO GIVE EVERYTHING--like it will be a privilege, and not a chore. It was illuminating.

Love, Peace, Care by Naomi, age 7

He helps us in making peace

A personal prayer from Julie's (8) missal:

He is our place of rest.
His power is in us.
He is our shield.
He helps us in making peace.
The kingdom of God is all around.

Do not be afraid for he is near. (surrounded by crosses and lit candles)

The Wedding Banquet

I was giving the presentation of The Wedding Banquet to a group of 6-9-year-olds. I told them to listen carefully so they could tell me what Jesus was trying to tell us about the Kingdom of Heaven. They listened intently. So intently, that one little fellow said when I had finished, that he needed to hear it again. He also asked me exactly what "binding hand and foot" really meant. So we went through the whole presentation again. Then we thought about it. They were very good at figuring out what Jesus meant. However, the little fellow still looked very concerned. Finally, he asked me if we could add another figure to the story. The figure of a queen. Intrigued by his thought pattern, I asked why. He was very clear. "Well, you see, if there had been a queen, she'd have given the fellow who showed up without a wedding robe a second chance."

During a "review" of Good Shepherd presentation at the beginning of the new school year;
Q: What do you already know about the Good Shepherd?"
Ben: "The Good Shepherd was Jesus. When Jesus decided to leave heaven and come down to earth, the angels held his power for him. And on the day when he went down under the water to get baptized, those angels brought him down his power and sprinkled it all through him like glitter, because they knew he would need his power now."

Big in love

Q. How is God's kingdom like a mustard seed?

Lara, age 6: It's like Jesus who started as a tiny baby and grew and grew - big in love.