After a few seconds, he fell down on the ground because the sweater covered his eyes and he struggled to get the sweater on/off. In his lil 4 year old voice he called his mommy and remained on the floor squirming.
But because lil Dominic is like the cutest wutest lil boy ever, I couldn't resist but bend down to help him put it on myself. When his head finally got cleared of the sweater he demanded in as loud a voice as he could (which wasn't too loud), "Mommy!!! Why did you put the sweater over my head!?!"
Then he proceeded to talk to me over how he got a bruise on his eye because he slipped on a pencil and it was painful and I just wanted to pick the little kid up and hug him to death.
After the kids club the leaders were chatting about the kids and it was very encouraging when apparently one of the mothers shared of how her teenage daughter has changed so much in the last few months through the kids club she has been faithfully attending for more than 1.5 years. Most of us agreed that even we noticed it ourselves.
A hyperactive and loud boy who we had to shout at constantly, to get him to listen has somehow seemed to find his place and he has actually become one of my favourites. Interestingly, he seemed to settle much better after a bout of frustratingly unruly behaviour but rather than a session of stern rebuking, he received affirmation that the leaders of the club really does like him. Unruly behaviour makes it harder for the leaders to show that, but we really do like him.
Now he occasionally asks for permission before he tries to shatter our eardrums with screaming, he can keep silent for the most part of the Bible teaching though he puts on an utterly bored look and he's beginning to respond to my glares and actually be quiet for 10 minutes until the next glare. We're learning each other's limits, but most times, his inextinguishable cheeky grins makes me smile and I always end up wanting to ruffle his hair affectionately.
Another boy has been melting our hearts with his love and loyalty for his older sister, who has certain physical limitations, without showing once like he is burdened, but the contrary, always tries to take charge as "the brother". He has also been discreetly trying to be a big brother to some of the younger ones, helping them find passages or reminding them to be quiet when he notices the irritated strain emerging on the leaders' faces.
I love some of the church kids to bits, their behaviours are always impeccable, they listen and are gentle and respond to authority. But they aren't as exciting as the non-church kids I've mentioned. The non-church kids are the ones who come from more challenging home backgrounds, who without the friendship with the church, makes me wonder what they would turn out like in life.
It's been deeply satisfying seeing a good number of them blossoming and they have definitely adjusted better from when this year first started out. There is merit, in living a life not just for one's own sake, but for the sake of others. There is merit, in loving each individual children rather than loving peace, order and discipline in itself. The greatest merit is seeing the fear of the Lord flicker in the eyes of a child, because that is the beginning of wisdom.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10