You know how God delights in putting us in situations where we’re sure we can’t do something? That happened to me this year. I was asked to add Elementary Drama to my teaching load.

A little background: I was an Elementary Ed major for about five minutes. Until I realized I’d have to teach math and science. And little kids. So I switched to English Education because that required very few math and science courses and zero little kids.

So you can see why adding Elementary Drama to my teaching load was a little scary. I mean, I don’t have to teach math or science. But there are kids. And the scariest, coming in, were the really little ones: Kindergarten! How do I teach Drama to Kindergarten? What do I do with them for 30 minutes? I was really nervous and pretty sure I’d hate that particular segment of my week.

Fast forward to three months into the school year: The thirty minutes with the Kindergarteners is just about the best part of my week. I look forward to it. Sometimes, I stop and hang out at the playground just to chat with them, outside of Drama class. Because they are adorable.

And it’s not just their chubby cheeks and little lisps. They’re just so happy. About everything! They think it’s super cool that, over break, they went to the park. Pretending the floor is a trampoline is so exciting they squeal. And when asked to act out what they want to be when they grow up, I get ballerinas, superheros, and ninjas.

It doesn’t take much to make a five-year-old really excited. And while they may cry over someone moving into their square or standing in front of them in line, they’re over it in about ten seconds. Totally over it. No grudges, no gossip, no refusal to be friends. They’re mad, then they’re fine. They’re not friends, then they’re best friends.

I feel like I’m finally understanding the reason why Jesus loved the little children so much, why He encouraged His followers to be like them. There’s no artifice, no hypocrisy. You know exactly what they’re feeling and thinking. They mess up and move on. They laugh and love and jump and squeal and find joy in opening imaginary doors and painting with an invisible paintbrush.

I’m so glad God pushed me out of my comfort zone this year — in so many ways! But especially in what He’s teaching me through these children. I miss out on too many joys because I don’t act like a child. It’s time to move on, to laugh, to forgive, and to enjoy. Life is too short to be too “grown-up”.