Vacation Bible School. 

Children running around hotter than the lake of burning fire, Bible skits, songs with wild motions, and a memory verse with cheap junk prizes that children screamed wildly when awarded was the pinnacle of summer when I was growing up.  Vacation for the few parents who did not help. Bible School– because we chanted the verses of the Holy Writ and learned the ancient stories of our heritage, all in a constant whirl of motion. We even had a large sandbox in the basement of one church and it was the main attraction. Or was it Jesus?  The drinks in the 60s and 70s were mainly lemonade and the now forbidden red-dye selections of Hawaiian Punch and Kool-Aid. 

I have just completed the 2025 version of VBS, and the vibe remains unchanged, at least for the children. 

Children are still running like a windstorm without direction. The songs require arms waving and feet moving. The competition to win the tchotchke toy is fierce and sand is still beloved. Snack time is healthier, but I brought contraband munch to distract my group of four-year-olds during our morning and by Friday, they were coming to me as if I were the candy cartel. 

I started the week a bit shaky with my little tribe of Zebulon, as it had been several years since I had last led the small ones. My children are 31 and 35. By the end of the week, I was eagerly greeting each smiling child, encouraged by their ardor as they entered the church each morning. I was running hot myself.  

Will they remember the songs? The verses? Will they keep any of the crafts? I doubt if many of the baubles even made it home and I cannot know what will be recollected. I do believe their hearts will remember being loved and valued where they learned about Jesus. I still have a fond spot in my heart for sandboxes and love Jesus. 

 Support your local VBS!!  

Pray: 

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” -Matthew 19:14