Activity/ Discussion for 5th and 6th grade Awana or Sunday School. Bring some play-doh that’s not new. Have the kids try to build something with it. Anything they want. See if the pieces stay together. Talk about how the “cracks” in our lives, serve as trials to help develop our character and bring us closer to God. Talk about looking for blessings for the “cracks” in our lives. Close in a time of prayer and thank Him for being there through the tough times. It’s the “cracks” in our lives that cause us to grow.

Today was all about seeing what I could do in front of the kids when I do the lesson for Awana. I wanted to see if I could make the vase while telling a story and sharing scripture. That’s not going to happen. It takes a lot of focus for me to concentrate on the hand movements while I’m making the vase. Counsel time is short. See how the play-doh is falling apart? It seemed like every time I tried to make the vase, the play-doh gave me a hard time. I finally did make the entire vase with the help of Jessica because I’m still struggling with how to get the height at the top. If there was one crack in one place, as soon as I fixed it, there was another crack in another place. Eventually, the whole vase just fell apart. The play-doh had been getting old and dried out. It just wouldn’t cooperate. It reminded me of how many times there are “cracks” in our lives. God could fix them, but many times He doesn’t. Many times He allows the trials in our lives to stay in our lives to see how our character will develop, and how it brings us closer to Him. Trials are often how we learn more about God and get to know other people in God’s family. Without the “cracks” in our lives, we might miss out on other blessings. Because I have cerebral palsy and need help, I get to see the great work God does in the lives of other people. I get to minister to others in a unique way. In 2 Corinthians 12: 7 -10, the apostle Paul says,“I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Amen! Lord thank you for the “cracks” in my life that bring me closer to you. Help me to remember my blessings on a daily basis. Thank you for the many people you’ve put in my life who shine for you. Help me be a light to others. You may ask, “So how are you going to do the lesson Rachael?” I’m going to prepare the pieces ahead of time. Talk about each step it takes to make the vase, and back it up with scripture. Then I’m going to have the kids make something of their own with play-doh, and ask them how they would feel if that thing talked back to them, and told them, ‘I don’t like the way I’m made.” I want to communicate to the kids that God made them perfect in His image. Each person is beautiful just the way they are! I should be ready by late October or early November.

Wow! Today was amazing with Jessica! For not playing with play-doh for two weeks. I remembered most of the process all by myself. Jessica only had to help me toward the end. See how this vase is not as pretty as the one above? That’s okay. I did it, so it’s beautiful.The same principle applies to us as humans and everything God made in the earth. Genesis 1:31 says, “And God saw everything he had made, and it was very good.” Lord, help me not to get obsessed with the world’s beauty products and remember when you looked at me, you designed me and said, “Very good.” You are the master artist! Amen.

Activity/ Discussion 5th or 6th grade Awana or Sunday School. Have the kids copy a favorite picture of something they like or make something yourself with play-doh. See how well they can copy the design. Go around the room and give them compliments for their work of art even if it is a little sloppy. For me personally, I am such a perfectionist. When I copy something, I want to do it exactly like the picture. I get frustrated easily when I can’t-do something because of the limitations with my limited hand dexterity. Because I have cerebral palsy, learning things takes time. God didn’t create things in one day. He took His time. Then He looked at everything and said, “It Is good.”  Remind the kids how when God looked at them, He said, “It is good.”