During my last two years of high school, I got to work with the 4 and 5 year old Sunday School class at Olathe College Church of the Nazarene. And then I taught the same age group for several years at Pensacola First Church of the Nazarene. You have to stay on your toes with this age group. They always ask the best questions.

• While showing them the baptismal, one student had a question about what those being baptized will be wearing: “Will they be naked?” she asked. Great question! The baptismal does look a little like a bathtub.
• When talking about Paul, one young lad said. “So the bad guy was Saul and the good guy was Paul?” Astute assessment!
• One Sunday morning, as I was praying out loud, I heard some strange noises and looked up to see what was going on. A dear, sweet child pointed at me and yelled, “You opened your eyes!!” I never did learn what was going on before she caught me peeking.
• During story time, one little girl looked at me and said “I’m tired.” She then put her head on the table and went sound asleep. I was really impressed that she took the time to explain her behavior.
• While talking about “taking the offering” one tiny tot wanted to know who took it and shouldn’t we be looking for them?

One Sunday morning, a member of my class saw my husband and told his mother that he knew that guy. She was surprised because he had a tough time remembering names and that he had only talked with John once. The mom asked her four year old what the man’s name was; he looked up and said clearly “Mr. Jill.” I understand where he was headed, but his train of thought stopped at the wrong station!

Funny, I am not Mrs. John but I am Mrs. Stein. While I was working for the Navy, I was known as “Dr. Stein” or “Ms. Mullins.” But, I was NEVER, EVER, EVER “Dr. Mullins-Stein.” (Say it out loud and you will understand why.)

I find it odd that we provide all kinds of information for our own “profile” in every social networking community, but that we disagree with having TSA “profile” us when we board an airplane. It seems that we want to be the only ones who are allowed to profile us. We want to shape our image, write our own bio, and decide what others will see, know and think about us.

In reality, people develop their own “profile” of us every single day.

So, who will we be this holiday season? Have fun considering being one of the characters (some real and some fiction) this year:

• Sally Brown: “Dear Santa Claus, How have you been? Did you have a nice summer? How is your wife? I have been extra good this year, so I have a long list of presents that I want. Please note the size and color of each item, and send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself: just send money. How about tens and twenties?”
• Scrooge: “It’s all humbug, I tell you, all humbug!”
• Tepper and Bennet’s song: “I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas. Mommy and daddy are mad. I’m getting nuttin’ for Christmas. ‘Cause I ain’t been nuttin’ but bad.”
• The Grinch: “What if Christmas, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
• Buddy, the Elf: “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
• Clarence the movie angel: “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”
• Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus: (the scripture says of Joseph) “He did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him.”
• Mary, the Mother of Jesus: “I am the Lord’s servant.”

You can write your own profile this holiday season. Think about it. Who do you want to be?

“Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.” (Proverbs 3:3-4)