When Kindergartners Wash Feet: John 13:14-15

I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you. - John 13:14-15

I love this so much. Sometimes the greatest act of love and discipleship is being willing to serve in humility.

I've been reflecting this week on what makes an effective and strong leader at work, with my family, and with friends. It's difficult not to speak out when you feel it is your place. For me, I find this especially challenging when I see someone I care about hurting or being taken advantage of. This usually doesn't end well, though. Instead of rectifying the problem for the person being wronged, it sometimes draws more attention to their problem and escalates it for them. So what if instead of setting others straight, we find an opportunity to serve those in the wrong? Being the example isn't always advising them how to fix things. It's showing them how to love one another.

Today a kindergartner came up to me during stations and said that a little girl stole his glue and wouldn't give it back.
FYI: This kid tells on everyone for everything. With the little guys, I try to encourage them to solve problems with each other by acknowledging the problem (apologizing) and fixing it (showing each other that they will respect them in the future). Sometimes this needs to be accompanied by a consequence when their will overpowers their desire to learn a lesson. ;)

 Well, to be honest....I'm just getting tired of making everyone apologize to this kid all the time. Kids want justice so bad. Their little bodies scream, "Must...Receive...Justice...For...All...Wrong...Doing." Plus, the little girl has a very hard time getting along with others.

When he came to me to right the wrong, I told him, "I'm sorry buddy... Why don't you try forgiving her today?"
This kid looked at me like I was bat sh** crazy. "What?" he replied. "But she took it. It was mine and she took it Miss Heath! She won't give it back. Can you tell her to give it back?"

"That wasn't cool, friend. I'm sorry that happened to you....Do you think you can forgive her? She needed some glue and she didn't get it the right way, but maybe you can help her by showing her how to share. Try using good manners with her, ok?"

Unsatisfied, the little boy walked with crossed arms back to his table and stood next to the little girl .He stared at her for a while (he is a stubborn one). Finally after watching her use the glue for another minute, he said,  "I forgive you for taking my glue." (Reluctantly)

I giggled.

The little girl stopped her cut and glue project, looked up at him and said, "oh ...sorry." She handed him the glue but he gave it back to her!
 "Can I use it when you're done?" He said. *Triumph for good manners!* "Ok!" She said with a smile.

and don't you know...they shared that glue for the rest of the project.

:)

Of course, adult life is just a little more complex than letting someone who stole your glue use it first, but does it have to be?

Maybe that little girl will share her glue tomorrow. Maybe she won't. If I want her to learn to be a person that understands what sharing and loving means, she needs to encounter some love and forgiveness in her path. I don't think this is foreign to adult life. ;)

Love knows no record of wrong. It never fails.


REFERENCE:

John 13:1-17

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him,and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.