Elf In the Classroom

It was one of those special days.
Special because as a mother of five, one on one time must be planned.
It doesn’t matter the age, having special time…just the two of us…is so important!

My daughter, the second grade teacher, had an appointment this afternoon.
She had lunch with me before she went.

It was one of those lunches when I had the privilege of just listening.
It’s funny what another person will say when they have your undivided attention.
That is why it is a privilege.
It is a privilege to hear a heart!

Apparently, this morning was a Murphy’s Law kind of morning in the classroom.
“Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”…so the adage goes.
Just one of those mornings.

We always have music playing in our house.
My children grew up with it…various genres from classical to rock to show tunes.
My daughter’s classroom is the same way.
The children love to sing along quietly, when they have work to do at their desks.

Maybe the fact that Christmas is coming makes the children so excited.
Maybe it is because they like a certain rendition of Jingle Bells.
Attention seemed to be a bit shorter today…anything made them giggle.
It was a day when not everything got accomplished.

All at once…everything stopped.
Buddy fell!

You see my daughter has an elf in her classroom.
You’ve seen them..the little elf that sits on a shelf, or a bookcase, or in the pantry.
The elf visits her classroom every day and sneakily perches in precarious places.
The children named him Buddy!

Buddy cannot be touched!
That is the one rule!
The children have been wonderful about that one stipulation.
If Buddy happens to be within reach, they will go around him in order to avoid contact.

In the confusion of the morning, as my daughter was ready to leave for her appointment…
Buddy fell.

An audible gasp filled the room.
No one moved.

There he lay in a heap on the floor.
Quick thinking, on my daughter’s part, handled the situation.
She alone could touch the elf.
She needed to tell him that she was going to pick him up, however.

There she was…all 5’9″ of her…on the floor…whispering in the elf’s ear.
The children stood silent…watching her every move.
Then, with the utmost care, she lifted the elf to his former position.
There was an audible sigh of relief…since they had been holding their collective breath.

My daughter is a Christian teacher in a public school.
To some, those two facts may seem to be in opposition.

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. (John 15:19)

In the world…but not of the world.

As my daughter told me the whole, eventful story…her face suddenly lit up.
Oh, I got permission today to read the “Best Christmas Pageant Ever” to the children.

This book, by Barbara Robinson, tells the story of six unruly children who want to be part of the church’s annual Christmas pageant.
No one in the church wants them to be in the play.

The pageant was always done a certain way.
Many of the same people have the same parts year after year.
The pageant always had propriety…civility.
That would be lost if these children take part.

Aren’t these children exactly who Jesus came to save?
It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. (Mark 2:17)

When the book is read to the children, they will hear the Gospel message.
The children asked her to read this book, since they read another book by that author.
They watched a Charlie Brown Christmas as well.

Granted, all December holidays are discussed in a public school classroom.
ALL December holidays…including Christmas.
Most especially, Christmas.

Sometimes we are so afraid of what can be discussed in the public school setting.
Much can be discussed…without compromise…without fear!

Truth is like cream..it always rises to the top!

We must be sagacious…we must use our mind!
How can we show Christ to the world, when the world cannot see Him?
How can we share Christ’s Word, when the world cannot hear?
How can we bring Christ into the workplace, when He is often unwelcome there?

We keep showing Him.
We keep sharing Him.
We keep bringing Him.

Elves seem to belong in a public school classroom.
So does Christ!
Most definitely He belongs there…as He belongs everywhere.
He is not hidden…as long as we exude Him in all we do…in all we say…in all we are.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise. (Psalm 8:1)