Anita Ojeda 
Why I Should Collect The Things My Students Say
My students crack me up. I’ve had the privilege of teaching teenagers for the last 28 years, and every week involves a good belly laugh over something one of them said or wrote.
Unfortunately, I’ve failed to collect all of their funny sayings over the years. Just think of the collection I’d have by now! During my mixed-grade study hall, Kyle—a constant work-avoider, wanted to know who got to sit in the comfy chairs in the corner near my desk.
“Today Brian and Sandy get to sit in the chairs,” I told him. Brian, one of the boys in our faculty family, hurried over to the comfy corner, eager to arrive first and claim the ottoman as well as a chair.
Kyle tried to negotiate. “If I can’t sit in a chair, may I stand here against the wall?”
“No.”
“But those kids scare me.” He gestured towards the fifteen other kids in my room and smirked. “They might bite me.”
“How do you know I won’t bite you?” I asked him with a toothy grin.
Brian piped up, “You’re vegetarian! You won’t bite.”
Yep. Made me laugh and giggle for the rest of the study hall. I delight in my students’ offbeat humor. When they misbehave, I remember that good feeling and temper my reaction.
Does God Collect Our Funny Sayings?
I wonder if God ever laughs and giggles over things we say? Does he collect our quirky conversations and smile fondly when he remembers something funny that we said when we happen to misbehave?
I think he does. Psalm 18:19 says, “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”
That promise makes me smile every time I read it. Not the fact that God will rescue me, but the fact that he delights in me.
God delights in me! That's better than money in the bank. Click To TweetIt gives me courage to live a spacious life full of grace and forgiveness.
Love this scripture! Its a wonderful reminder. Thank you for it.
I think God does. I think he does delight in those silly things or funny moments just like our own kids do.
It is interesting to think that God really does take joy in us.
Thanks for this!
Thanks for stopping by, Somer :). I’ve discovered that so much of my parenting journey makes me think of my Heavenly Father’s relationship to me. It’s powerful.
Anita, I loved this. Teens can have an exquisite sense of humor. 🙂 I wish I had written down everything my boys have said. They crac k me up sometimes. 🙂
Fun post, my friend!
Thanks, Jeanne! I know, Didn’t Art Linkletter write a book titled “Kids Say the Darndest Things”? I read it when I was kid. I should have started MY book back then!
I agree with you, ANita – I think God does save our funny and oddball comments because He’s laughing with us…and sometimes AT us.
In Summer Floyd’s post this week, she describes a poem she’d written for her oldest child, and subsequently lost…it’s my belief that the poem’s not gone for good. God has it, and will present it to Summer on their meeting.
And I think that God saves the unfinished dreams we have here, for us to continue working on in Heaven.
And I don’t bite, either. But Ladron, Heeler, service dog, and sidekick, makes no such promises.
#1 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-dying-spouse-213-lethal-lessons-fmf.html
;). Glad to hear you don’t bite! Our furbabies can take care of that for us! And yes, God probably laughs in disbelief at some of my harebrained actions and words!
Kids do say the darnedest things. I’ve got some great stories too. I’m over in the 11 spot this week.
Better start writing them down, Tara! Maybe a series for next year’s #write31days ;)?
I haven’t been by your blog in a while. You’ve redesigned it. I like it!
I love the funny things kids say. Thank you for sharing this. 🙂
Hey, Melinda! Nice to see you again! This is actually a new blog (yeah, now I have two…I’m nuts). I’m still over at Blessed (but Stressed), but I’m trying to keep the focus on that one on caregiving and move all of my non-caregiving stuff over here.
I love this. I work a lot with children and often think it would be fun to collect and remember the stories of the funny things they say. Psalm 18:19 is also one of my favourite verses and I love the reminder that God delights in us.
Kids have such a fun, quirky way of seeing the world, don’t they?
I’ve always pictured God laughing with us, (maybe even lovingly a little *at* us?) sort of the way we laugh with toddlers and small children. We see them struggle and make things so much harder and then they do or say something that just cracks us up. I love the Scripture you shared, it has always made me feel close to God when I get the giggles.
Hi, Patricia! Welcome :). I tried leaving a comment on your site, but was unable to. I enjoyed your FMF post :).
Anita recently posted…Do You Expect God to Fulfill Your Heart’s Desires?
so true anita. wonderful that He delights in us. that truth was lost on me for so long:( blessings girl!
I love thinking that God may actually smile or treasure some of my thoughts and words. thanks for sharing this. I will be reminded of this now during all my conversations with God!
keeping a sense of humour is so good with children eh? It’s good to love the things they come up with. 🙂
Ha! I love this! “They might bite” That’s awesome!