Working with children is an education. You hear things that are funny, sad, sweet and shocking. You hear things you can’t wait to share and things you wish you hadn’t heard.
An old Art Linkletter TV show had a segment called, ‘Kids Say the Darnedest Things.’ TV was live back then, so what was said was what you got. Once he was asking kids what work their dads did. A girl said her dad was a policeman. Art asked if it was hard work. She said, “Yes. He works a lot at night.” Art asked if this bothered her mom. The girl said, “No, because when he works nights, he sometimes brings her jewelry.”
Communicating with kids can be a challenge, too; what you say may not be what they hear.
A Sunday School teacher told her class that elders oversee the whole church. In review, she asked, “Now, what do elders do?” A little boy said, “They overlook everybody at church.”
Then there was a boy who told his grandmother he loved to sing the bear song in church. She didn’t know it. In case you don’t know it, here it is: “Gladly, the crossed-eyed bear.”
In fairness to kids, adults get confused, too, but we may not be as funny. Bible texts can be so misunderstood and misapplied that they lead to extreme conclusions. For example:
1 Peter 3:3 “It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful.”
This text does not forbid women from wearing jewelry or fashionable clothing or cutting their hair. Instead, it leads into the next verse that encourages rather than discourages:
1 Peter 3:4 “No, your beauty should come from within you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God.”
True beauty is on the inside, not the outside. You can’t artificially create a beautiful spirit; designer clothes or hairdos will not make a mean spirit gentle or an ugly attitude attractive.
A Sunday school teacher was explaining to her class the life of a Christian:
“A Christian gives to receive – helps without asking to be repaid – loves those who don’t love in return – serves instead of being served – becomes great by becoming a servant – as an adult has the heart of a child – dies in order to live. Are there any questions?” A little girl visiting for her first time asked, “Teacher, is it just you or is everybody at this church backwards?”
After 3 days at the retreat, I can confidently say everyone who is a part of The Best Team Ever is backwards! How awesome it is! What a blessing to experience life with so many who give themselves each day that others can be taught, loved, cared for and comforted. And I must add: there was so much laughter – good, healthy laughter! Thank you for being so backwards Wed-Fri. It did my old heart good! And remember, you are greatly loved!
(Recommendation: go to YouTube, search for Yakov Smirnoff ‘Happily Ever Laughter’ – it’s not long but the effects are!)
–Jackie Chesnutt, Chaplain and Emotional Support Coach for Myers-Davis (8/10/2026)
