Coloring the Big X

Little Religion he Sunday school teacher told a story about Jesus and drew a large picture of the cross on a flip chart. The children were given blank sheets of paper and instructed to draw and color their own crosses. As my daughter shouted enthusiastically, “Oh Mommy, do I get to color the big X, too?” I thought, Hmmm... maybe this kid could use a bit more religion.

I thought we had done a fair job of introducing reli- gion to our daughter’s life. Occasionally we read the “Jesus” books (aka the children’s Bibles received at her baptism). She knew about God. She knew what a prayer was.

When we thought it was time to get seri- ous about church, we started attending regularly and I took her to the children’s liturgy program during Mass at our local parish. And she learned a bit more about the “big X.” I thought we were on the right track until a few months later. One Sunday we joined my husband’s Irish Catholic family for dinner, and, as is customary at such events, we said grace together before eating.

This is something my daughter, for reasons I do not quite understand, abhors. She put her hands over her ears and had a sour look on her face during the entire bless- ing. When we were finished, she sat back in her chair and said loudly, “Well, I’m glad we don’t do that at our house!”

Lots of discreet and amused smiles appeared around the table. This was cute enough coming from a five-year-old, but I still felt obligated to state, “For the record, we do try sometimes!”

Now, as part of our efforts to firm up commitment to church, set a good example, and introduce a bit more religion, I volunteer for the children’s liturgy program. It is the easiest volunteer gig in the world. Once a month I take the children for the first half of Mass, read them a Coles Notes’ version of that day’s Gospel, engage them with a few easy questions, and hand out the coloring sheets. As I was preparing for my monthly stint at children’s liturgy recently, I found there was no one in the office to give me the code to the photocopier.

How was I going to get the color- ing sheets prepared for the kids? What would happen? Would they revolt? Would I face mutiny in the chil- dren’s room?

Would I be “unvolunteered”? But then I remembered the day my daughter wanted to color the “big X.”

No problem, I assured myself, I can handle this. I have been leading this program once a month for five months now; I am a seasoned deliverer of religious education for children ages four to eight. Bring it! So I read the Gospel to the kids.

Our story was about the twelve apostles and included a brief bio on each. I decided to wing it with the following: “So, boys and girls, the apostles were all very different people who came together to make great things happen. Just like each one of us are all different. Just like in your class- room or on your soccer team.

Different people com- ing together from different backgrounds with different skills working together to make things happen. Just like Jesus did with the apostles.” I smiled proudly. I was so pleased with myself.

Excellent work using the Gospel to celebrate diversity, I thought to myself, just excellent. “So what I would like you to do today, children,” I continued, “is each take a blank sheet of paper and draw the twelve apostles. And draw them each differently.” I am so on my game, I thought excitedly, this even includes counting—so educational!

1 didn’t stop to think that pride is considered a sin in some circles. I walked around the room, surveying my brilliant lesson plan in action. I noticed, not surprisingly, that my own daughter was drawing fairies. Another little girl proudly showed me the large pumpkin she drew.

As she turned her paper over she told me that she was now drawing a ghost. The Holy Ghost? I felt my confidence waning. With a few minutes left, I told the children it was time to start finishing up and putting away the crayons.

A little boy excitedly approached me and pushed his work in my face. How eager to please they are at this age, I thought. “This is how Jesus would look dressed in a Spider- man costume!” I smiled, feeling slightly defeated, and also slightly comforted by the knowledge that we were not the only family trying to introduce a little religion.

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