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?"
Krista, age 6: A long time before Jesus was on the earth, the Jewish people were slaves in Egypt. God and Moses did plagues on Pharoah and the Egyptians, and the worst one was the Death Angel. The Death Angel flew over the houses that had the blood of the lamb on the doorpost, but all the first born sons of the Egyptians died. Even Pharoah's own son. But when Jesus came to earth and lived out love, and died on the cross and rose up on Easter, the Death Angel lost his power forever."

Hank, age 4, was having a lesson on the Found Sheep. He explained that he wanted to pray “The sheep had greatness,” and then he began to sing:
“The sheep had greatness. The shepherd found the sheep. The sheep was happy. And the shepherd called all his friends and neighbors. He called out, ‘Sing joy with me. Sing joy!’ And believe in my sheep and all of the sheep is in God’s heart.”

Found Sheep

Natalia, age 4, was receiving the presentation on the Found Sheep for the first time. When I wondered what the Good Shepherd would do when he realized that one sheep was missing, Natalia replied, "Run out!" She picked up the figure of the Good Shepherd and took it quickly to the figure of the missing sheep, then explained, "Pick up the sheep and put it back in the sheepfold."

At the beginning of the Good Shepherd presentation, Natalia, age 4, said that the shepherd cares for his sheep by "naming, loving, and leading them." After we read the scripture booklet, she said that the Good Shepherd is Jesus and that one of the sheep is named "Mister."

Lenora, age 5, had just received the presentation on the Found Sheep. She asked to sing the Good Shepherd song (a song that I've been working on writing and had shared a bit with her). We sang together and then she suggested that the song needed more verses. She suggested, "I love the sheep, and the sheep love me" and we sang this. She then began to meditate on the Good Shepherd. For the next hour she meditated and periodically come to me to offer another "verse" for the song. These were the verses:
* "Everybody's a family.
* Everybody in the green tree is a family.
* All the birds that sing are in the family.
* Everybody that are animals are in the family.
* Everything that sings is part of me.
* All the trees I see is a part of me.
* And I love green beans.
* And I love all the twinkles in the trees.
* And I love green beans.
* And I love all the monkeys in the trees."
Upon finishing her meditation, she gave me her "book" with a freehand drawing of "God" and two tracings each of the Good Shepherd and the sheep.
The next day, Lenora chose to work with the Good Shepherd again. While meditating, she again offered me more verses: "I love smelling flowers. I love taking showers (that rhymes)" and later, "God has lots of power." She gave me her meditation tracing of a sheep with many lines and circles all around it. Lenora explained that it is "The Protected Sheep" with "like a bubble around it."

"He calls them happy"

Mariana, age 5, was working with the Good Shepherd. When I wondered how Jesus had responded when asked "Who are you?" Mariana explained that Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd." When I wondered what shepherds do, she explained, "Take care of the sheep. Give them food and give them water." When I wondered how the Good Shepherd calls the sheep, she replied, "he calls them happy" and added while pointing to the sheep, "these are all the family of sheep." When I wondered later what the Good Shepherd's voice sounds like, she replied, "Jesus' voice. Mary and Joseph wanted to have a baby." She then meditated on the Good Shepherd.

Shalom

Nia, age 3, was working with the Good Shepherd. As she moved the figure of the Good Shepherd, she sang "shalom, shalom, shalom..." to herself. She seemed content.

"We have to get our hearts ready."

When another student was receiving a presentation on The Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-13), Eli, age 7, said about the clothes, "Oh, Jesus was talking about getting ready for God's kingdom and we have to get our hearts ready."

Daughter of God

Natalia, age 6, was working with the Maxim, "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit". She explained, "This [maxim] makes me feel like the Daughter of God."

Open the door

Reflecting on the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, I wondered what the work is that we're preparing to do. Joseph, age 8, said, "Opening up the door to everyone."