1/2 DOZEN PRINCES

½ DOZEN PRINCES

For the last quarter of the year I have had a ½ Dozen Princes in my life.  Strange, you think, since I live in a house, not a palace, and have a husband and children.  Why would I have ½ a dozen “Princes”?  Now if you look at me, you would believe a ½ dozen donuts, yes…but ½ dozen Princes…well let’s just say I am not really “Princess” material!

In June at Bible class promotion time, I lost some of my very favorite of all time students (of course, I do say that EVERY single year).  I had some of the sweetest, most adorable little girls you would ever lay your eyes on.  They would arrive each Sunday morning in cute smocked dresses and big bows.  Some have dimples as deep as wells, and they would tell stories that would make you struggle to keep a straight face.  When they were promoted, I told them that I would REALLY cry if they didn’t come back for hugs.  A couple of them have taken me so seriously that when they see me they run up to hug me.  They do it so obligatory that I think they possibly believe I will immediately burst into tears if they don’t. 

The very next Sunday, in walked my ½ Dozen Princes…six little three year old boys.  I had no idea what I was in store for…literally!  I had never had only boys in my class before...never!!  I had often had a classroom filled with girls, but never only boys. 

The result has exceeded my wildest imagination!  I wondered if they would listen, sit still, and sing along with me.  They have indeed, from the very first week, been excellent listener and learners.  They caught on quickly and since our class thrives on repetition, have each week been vigorously singing the songs back to me.  They mock my actions, so the more animated I am, they respond likewise!  It is sometimes more than I can manage to see six little “Roberta’s” singing back to me.  One Mom told me her son told her, “She does it like this!”

So this will serve for more than a single writing, but a conglomeration of gathers through this coming year of the lessons I am to learn from my ½ Dozen Princes!

Riley:  Riley is a true prince, being our minister’s first son. He has always been shy and close to his Mom and Dad, not really branching out to others.  I have said for the past couple of years, “That’s okay; he will love me when he is three!”  And so it goes…he watches every move I make and sings back to me and answers the questions, and at the end of class I always get a huge hug.

Jack:  At the young age of three, Jack is already outnumbered with girls at his house, having an older sister and a younger sister, so I think the all boy class is the perfect getaway for him.  He tends to be very absorbed in whatever he is doing and so he soaks each lesson in like a sponge.  He can always retell the story with every detail easily.

Logan:  Logan comes in always wearing the same thing…the sweetest smile you have ever seen.  He loves everyone and can listen even with his head down and repeat back answers you think he hasn’t even heard.  He has a soft spot for the girls and is extra kind to any visitors we may have.   

Davis:  Davis is too large for words.  I had his older sister a couple of years ago and she was quiet, loving, and shy.  There is not a quiet or shy bone in Davis’ whole body!  He, undoubtedly, is one of the very funniest children I have ever had in all of my 100 years of teaching!  Some Sunday’s it takes all the self-discipline I have not to just let him talk and turn the whole class over to him. 

Pierce:  Pierce is my youngest and it probably the hardest to hold his attention.  He has way too many things to think about in addition to class.  He is a child that can only run, not walk, from point A to point B.  He always smiles and hugs and he is probably the one that will be the most fun to watch how much he grows up over the year.

Elijah:  Elijah likes to begin class with a tear in his eye just to let his Dad think he will miss him.  Actually as soon as his Dad walks away he replaces any tears with a big broad smile that stays there until the end of class.  He loves to sing, although does not like to pick the song, and always listens intently to the Bible lesson.

I already have favorite stories about this class.  They all could care less about the doll house, but go straight for the cars and truck.  They love the bar-b-que grill and I have actually witnessed them playing tug-a-war with it. 

My list of “Davis” stories is growing, including the Sunday he walked in, took his seat, and after a few minutes noticed there was a visitor in our class….and not just any visitor, but a girl, and not just any girl but a BEAUTIFUL girl with long curly blond hair!  He looked at her long and hard and then turned to me and said (he speaks with a looooonnnngggg Suthern draawwwllllll) “Teacher, I didnnnn’ttt know we had a girrrrrllll in our claaaass!”  I said, “Yes, Davis, we have a visitor,” and he stated, “Buuuut, I didnnnn’ttt know we had a girrrrlllll in our claaass!” He could barely keep his eyes off her, and you would have thought it was a Disney princess sitting in our classroom!  One of my other favorites is the Sunday we were talking about what they wanted to be when they grow up.  Riley wants to be a pilot and Davis said he wanted to be a pirate.  “Oh, you want to be a pilot too, Davis?”  I mistakenly asked; “No, I want to be a PIRATE and fight with swords when I grow up,” he stated. 

My Bible class is my single favorite hour of my week…every week, without fail.  No matter how tired or burdened I am, I always get to teach them about The Best Book, laugh hard, act ridiculous, and receive six big hugs in the end.  It is so wonderful to watch these children learn of God’s amazing Word and of His unchanging, unending love.   More to come on my ½ Dozen Princes!!

Roberta Pledge

8/29/11