She was a most beautiful woman—kind and considerate, sensitive and compassionate. Her smile was infectious, and she had my full attention whenever she came into the room. I was so smitten that it was my serious intention to marry her as soon as possible. The fact that she already had a husband was not a problem for me. She would have to take care of that somehow.

You see, I was five years old, and she was my Sabbath school teacher! I was horrified to overhear some adults talking, and they said that she was homely! Surely they did not see the same beautiful lady that was beckoning me closer to Jesus each Sabbath. They couldn’t possibly be talking about the sweet person who recognized my shyness and helped me utter my first public prayer. Could they be confusing this Bible tour guide, who led us children around the sandbox desert and the model of Abraham’s tent, with someone else?

Maybe they were mixing her up with some disreputable character in our church. Or maybe they just hadn’t gotten to know her like I and the other children in kindergarten had. Or maybe adults should be careful about what they say in earshot of children. Or just maybe they should stop gossiping altogether!

Whatever the case, Sabbath school is still remembered as the most enjoyable part of church while growing up. What are you doing for the children in your church? Oh, I know you have 5–10 minutes of children’s church at the 11:00 a.m. service on Sabbath, but is there someone really dedicated to the welfare of the little guys and girls in your church? Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” That means that we can even take children as OUR example!

A few years ago Jackie and I conducted a couples' seminar in Phoenix, Arizona. After I preached that morning, a little lady introduced herself to me. It was my long lost childhood love! My kindergarten teacher was standing in front of me, and suddenly I realized that I had carried no physical remembrance of her. But to me she was still beautiful because of the positive spiritual effect she had on my young life. She is still married, praise the Lord, and I’m OK with that!