By Greg Miller

Mr. Barnabas, a teacher in a Christian school, wanted to give his students a proper attitude of Thanksgiving.

“I have an assignment for your Thanksgiving holiday,” Mr. Barnabas told the class. “At the conclusion of the weekend, I want you to choose a Bible reference to giving thanks, memorize the text and complete the project by Wednesday of next week.”

With Thanksgiving a mere memory, classmates embarked on a quest to finish their work. Students spent the Monday evening following Thanksgiving completing the project.

On Wednesday morning, Mr. Barnabas asked each student to share their chosen Scriptures. Barbara selected Psalm chapter 100, verse 4. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

Bobby’s Scripture selection was Psalm 106, verse 1, “Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

Bernice was always looking for a shortcut so she chose First Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”

Brian was awestruck as he remembered God’s holiness, so he chose Psalm 30, verse 4 as his Scripture selection. “Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

Belle always wanted to do more than the teachers expected, and she thought of thanksgiving as a continuing process, so she chose Psalm 30, verses 11-12 as her Scripture. “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”

Barcelona loved reading the four gospels, so he chose a Scripture from John 6:11, “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”

Mr. Barnabas asked the students to vote on their favorite verse submitted for the project. “The winner will receive a free pizza dinner for their family to enjoy,” he said.

Students asked Mr. Barnabas to leave the room while they voted. When he returned a few moments later, Belle said, “Mr. Barnabas, we all agree you’re a great inspiration to us, so we declare you’re the winner!”

“At the beginning of the school year I thought this would be one of the best classes I’ve ever taught. You’ve just proved me right! I think we’re all winners, so tomorrow during lunchtime I’m treating the whole class to a pizza party!”

(To contact the writer of this column about speaking engagements (in the U.S.A.), including Christian Comedy Fundraising Outreaches, Christian Creativity Seminars and/or puppet ministry, please type “Speaking Engagements” in the subject line and e-mail raysofson@gmail.com or kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.)