Every Tuesday during the school year, I go visit my friend, who happens to be in the third grade. I’ve been his mentor through Kids Hope since he was in Kindergarten, but sadly we didn’t see each other for nearly two years due to the pandemic.
Previously, our hour together was largely influenced by my suggestions: board games, puzzles, books…anything to stimulate his imagination and show him that I was a trusted adult who cared.
But now, he’s so much more inquisitive, so much more opinionated. The little boy with whom I once consistently played Candyland needs actual convincing and direction, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was struggling.
Today, we began with free draw, his favorite activity. My friend is a great artist, so I was happy to oblige his request. As we sketched pirate ships (per his suggestion), he asked me directly, “Did you like school?”
My first instinct was to say, “Of course! School is great! You should love it, too!” Obviously, I want him to know the importance of his education and encourage him to lean into his academic interests.
But then I remembered why I was actually there: to build a relationship. So I told him the truth, that there were some parts of school I loved, but some parts were really hard. He then offered up that he found areas of school challenging, both concerning subjects and friendships. I tried my best to simply listen, not attempting to fix it or “silver-lining” the situation.
Colossians 4:5-6 says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Wisdom isn’t having the answer but being prepared to answer. We need not know everything, we just have to be willing to show up and let God work out the rest. Even…or rather, especially…when dealing with a nine-year old.
Food for thought: When has someone else’s words brought comfort? When have your words brought comfort to someone else?
Rachel Fisher 