Bible lessons for persons with cognitive disabilities
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James 1: 19-20, 21, 26 (© Jeff McNair)
Be quick to listen
Be slow to speak
Be slow to become angry
Consider each of these.
What is the difference between hearing and listening? It is like the difference between chewing and swallowing.
Example- OK, here we go. Get whatever you might be having for a snack that day, and get a big handful of it. If it is a donut, say you are going to demonstrate chewing. Take the whole donut and put it in your mouth and just chew. Allow pieces of the donut to fall out on you the floor or whatever you want. Then spit it all out and say, "That was chewing. Did that donut go into my body?" Next show swallowing. Show them that your mouth is empty and take a bite of the donut. Chew it and then swallow it and show them your empty mouth again. Ask them what the difference was. Make the connection between chewing and hearing and swallowing and listening.
What happens when we become angry? It changes what we do, changes what we say. Did you ever notice how a person's language changes when they become angry? How does it change? They swear, get loud, etc. Are these good changes or bad changes? How does someone look when they become angry, can you show me? Do good things happen when someone becomes angry?
He who considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
So I can use myself for good or I can use myself for bad. Lets talk about our language, what we say. How can we use ourselves for good or use ourselves for bad?
I have heard Mr. Rogers (of the Mr. Rogers Show) say that he felt the space between his mouth and someone else's ears is a holy space. That is a good way to think about it.
So what do I want to put in that holy space?
Example- Have someone stand up next to you. Show them the holy space between your mouth and their ear. Then say something kind. "You look nice today" or "You are really paying attention today," or "You are my friend." After you say the nice thing to each person, ask them how they felt. They will say "Good." So when you put something nice in the holy space it makes people feel nice. You might then take one of the tougher persons in the group, who understands that you are pretending, once again show them the holy space and say something unkind like, "You are not my friend." Quickly say that you were just pretending as some of the group will think you unkind. Ask "How would that make you feel?" They will say "sad" or something to that effect.
Get rid of all moral filth
There are other things I can say to fill the holy space as well. I can tell dirty jokes or say dirty things. That isn't good either.
End by having groups of two come forward and say something in the holy space that is nice. Ask the person who heard it how it made him or her feel.
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© Jeff McNair