I taught Sunday School today to the little kids.  It was my first time with them, but most of them know me as, “the lady with the trumpet player”.  They were thrilled to learn I have a real name, and I’m a nice person.

I asked them if any of them knew the story of Jonah.  One of the kids thought he was the fellow with the ark.  His cousin corrected him, “No!  That was Noah.  Jonah is the guy who got eaten by sharks!”

I told them that God had a job he wanted done and he asked Jonah to do it, but Jonah didn’t want to.  We got into a discussion about parents who want chores done during cartoons or video game play just to make certain the kids knew just how Jonah was feeling.  Then I said, “Well, God asked Jonah to do a chore for him and Jonah said, “No way.  I don’t want to.  I’m not going to.  And you can’t make me.”

All the kids looked at me with huge round eyes.  One kid queried in disbelief, “Who did he say that to?”

I looked at them while nodding my head and I said, “God.”

“Oh!”  The only girl in the class squealed and hopped from her chair.  “This is going to be a really bad story! I’m not staying here!”  And out the door she ran.