I remember having a conversation with my grandfather several years ago. He was telling me stories about his childhood and different teachers he had growing up in school. He could tell me every teacher’s name, what they taught, and specific memories he had with all of them. Most of those were 70-80 years ago, yet they made such an impression on him that he still was talking about them as though it was just yesterday.
I was incredibly impressed by his memory. Not only because he could still tell me about all of them after that many years, but because I realized I could not remember all my teachers’ names, and I wasn’t having to remember back as far as he was! In fact, as I started thinking about it, I could remember more of my Sunday School teachers than I could my school teachers.
I started thinking about people like my kindergarten Sunday School teacher at St. Luke’s, Ms. June Blumhof. Ms. Blumhof taught kindergarten Sunday School for years and years. She was so faithful to be there every single Sunday to bless the lives of hundreds of children that would come through her classroom. To be honest, I’m not sure I specifically remember any single lesson that Ms. Blumhof taught. She wasn’t a pastor and didn’t have any formal theological training that I know of. But, I will never forget that I loved going to her class every Sunday because of how she made all of us kids feel.
June Blumhof exemplified God’s grace in every child’s life she met. She loved us, helped us to grow and learn, and taught us what it means to be part of a family of faith through her example. I could say the same thing about every other Sunday School teacher I had growing up. I know a huge reason that I became a pastor and why I am the person I am today is because there were wonderful people who loved God, cared about children, and took the opportunity to show grace that would change lives.
We can be conduits of God’s grace in the lives of others if we allow ourselves to be open to the opportunities in front of us, like Ms.Blumhof did. Blessing the life of a child can change and transform them with ripple effects that go out far beyond anything we will ever see. And, if I had to guess, I think Ms. Blumhof would have said that her life was more blessed by the children than the children’s lives were by her. That’s the way it often works when we allow God to use us. We get to experience a more full life.
Rev. Josh Attaway, Edmond Campus Pastor
