Advent Day 12 – Peace – Children's Ministry

Sharing the Gift of Peace
2 Corinthians 8:1-15 
At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” (2 Corinthians 8:14-15)

Paul’s words to the Corinthians are a reminder of the call to share generously with a spirit of abundance and equality. In this letter, Paul praises the Macedonian churches for their generosity, describing how they gave joyfully despite their struggles. Their giving is out of an abundance grounded in grace. We are recipients of God’s grace, and we help God’s grace achieve its goal by passing it on to others.  

A few weeks ago, during children’s church, a child brought in a few fidget toys from the basket near the children’s worship bags. She was using them to help her stay focused. We also had a new friend in children’s church who didn’t realize there were fidget toys available. He was having a hard time staying focused, but without a tool to help. The child with the fidgets looked down at her three pop-its, and without hesitation (or suggestion from an adult) she asked him, “would you like to have one of these?” With a sigh of relief, he gladly accepted the gift and re-shifted his focus, so he could focus on our story and conversation. Not only does this moment help us understand what Paul was explaining to the Corinthians about equity; this moment altered the energy in the chapel that day. There was a newly developed sense of peace, now that everyone’s needs were properly met. No one had too much, or too little. For that brief moment in time, everyone all had the right supply.

Children teach us life lessons more than some realize. The pure and innocent way they view the world creates a different perspective. A perspective that can speak to even the oldest of adults. This past week, we asked 3 of the children, "what do you think about when you think of Peace?" This is how it went:

Graham Hickson (9 years old) shared his thoughts on peace with his mother, "I think about green and yellow. I also think about happiness inside." His words are a beautiful reminder that peace looks and feels differently to each of us. To some, we think of seasonal colors - I wonder if he was thinking of the peace that Christmas time brings when he thought of green and yellow. Graham teaches us that peace can be seen in our world, it can also be felt. Not only can we see peace, we can also experience it within ourselves. For Graham, peace is happiness inside - simple, yet elegant words that remind us we can experience peace inwardly and share it with others.

Nash Peele (4 years old) describes peace as still moments in his day when he said, "peace is when I stop playing." Early childhood experts tell us that children learn the most when they are playing. I am reminded of moments when I am finished with work for the day and feel a sense of peace come over me - a moment of appreciation for the hard work, fruitful conversations, and joyous fellowship shared in my day. Nash's words encourage me to be intentional in sitting with those moments of peace, especially after I'm done "playing" or in between life's daily transitions.  

Hannah Schweitzer (9 years old) took some time to think about her answer and shared it in an email - "When I think about peace, I think about having fun with my family and people being nice to each other. That's not all it is though it's also people not arguing, people listening to each other and just plain helping other people. ?" Hannah's words share great wisdom. I have contemplated these words countless times in the last few days. As Paul writes in his letter, “the goal is equity.” Hannah gives us great insight on what that looks like when she dives deeper into her understanding of peace, when we don’t use our time to argue, but listen to each other and help each other out in ways that are most needed. Can you remember a time when someone truly listened to you? When they heard what you had to say, didn’t tell you your feelings were wrong, and offered to help you in a way that worked best for you. Moments like that remind me of peace.
Looking for an example of what Paul meant by equity? Look no further than the manger. The gift of Jesus was given to us as a child—pure, innocent, and with a fresh perspective on the world. Just as Jesus taught his earthly parents, may we turn to the youngest among us and ask what new insights they can offer. Let us strive daily to build a world where we take only what we need, leaving behind a world with enough for our children. 
 
Prayer: God of justice and peace. We come before You with hearts full of hope and gratitude, lifting up the precious gift of children in our world. We thank You for their innocence, their joy, and the fresh perspective they bring. May we honor their voices and cherish the wisdom they carry, for in them we see the promise of a brighter tomorrow. 
We pray for peace to dwell in the hearts of all children, that they may grow up in a world free from fear, violence, and injustice. Surround them with love and protection, and let their lives be filled with laughter, safety, and the nurturing care of those who seek to guide them. 
We ask for Your grace to help us build a world rooted in equity, where every child has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. Teach us to share, to give, and to create systems that honor the dignity of all people, especially the youngest among us. May we work together to ensure that no child is left behind, and that every child experiences the fullness of Your love. Grant us the wisdom and the courage to be agents of change, striving for justice and peace for all generations. Let our actions reflect Your vision of a world where all are treated with fairness, compassion, and respect. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.