I present for your inspection the 47th graduating class of Wee College...

It was very scarey when he first stepped into the room. Twenty other little people were already there, waiting with their Moms and Dads... waiting for the beginning of something that had never been done before. The nervous talk of the parents over shadowed his nervous shuffling feet. He noticed all of the other four and five year old kids of course but it did not make him feel any better. Motionless he stood, waiting. Not one of the other little people were talking or so much as moving as they hung onto hands, skirt hems and jacket sleeves waiting...waiting... 

"What are we doing here, mom...? I want to go home!" 
"Mom don't you leave me?"
"Should I cry?" 
" I need to pee..." 

All these and many other  thoughts were flooding into their hearts and minds.

Then suddenly, into the quietness of this little room in the second floor classroom she walked. Bright and smiling, "Hello everyone", she said, as she stepped into the room and shut the door. It was Mrs. Bright Smile... Her big bright smile on her face was there no doubt, but it was doing nothing to waylay his fears as all he could see was the door shutting and this person he had never met standing in front of the only exit.

"Hello everyone...", she repeated. No one moved, no one spoke, no one wanted to be there. His mother nudged him forward with the kind but clear direction that only his mother could create at a moments notice. "Say hello... you would not want to be rude would you?" his mom said, motioning for him to stand up and speak up, like he had always been taught to do...

"Hello..." the voice trailed off into silence as the energy behind that small greeting drained from his entire body and disappeared into a whisper and then onto the floor as his face dropped from view. It was clear now...Mom was going to leave him with her... Mom was going to leave him with this...with this...smiley person. Mrs. Bright Smile... too happy, he thought...way too happy. He would have none of it. Turning to face his mother and away from the smile... he wanted to run...he wanted to plead with his mother not do leave him there... to take him with her where ever she was going. And then through the emotion of that moment he heard two words that would forever change the course of his life.

Now don't let that statement wash over you with the assumption that the author is waxing on and exaggerating the magnitude of those two simple words, but listen closely as I say them again. Just as he was about to cry or hide in the folds of his mothers skirt, run or refuse to be left behind... two words were sounded that forever changed the direction of his life.

The words? Why... they seem silly to place such weight behind them. For all she said was..."LET'S SING"

Sing? Did she just say sing? Why he loved singing. "It was the best and most fun a person of four could have", he thought. He sang everyday. When he woke up he sang, and came into the kitchen to grab his breakfast, he sang. He sang as he played in the back yard or as he walked home from playschool he sang. Loudly and with his whole heart he sang... and now this smiling face was inviting all the little people to sing. The lure was too much, throwing caution away he quickly left his mothers side and he plunked himself down on the floor right at the feet of "Mrs. Bright Smile"  He looked up as she smiled down and nodded approvingly. 

"We're going to Wee College and we are gaining knowledge... learning from the precious word of God." 

"The B.I.B.L.E yes that's the book for me...I stand alone on the word of God... The B.I.B.L.E." 

The words came easily and the melodies even easier as he learned the new songs and then sung them back as clearly and brightly as he could. He was going to like this Mrs. Bright Smile after all he thought... 
after all... 
after all... 
after all...these years I find my eyes once again filling with tears as I remember the songs of Wee College. Written by Shirley Taitinger these songs still come back to my memory complete with hand actions. 

To others in that room that day. Becky Smith, Donna Foley, Rod Kroeker as well as many others, that very first Wee College ever taught was an experience that changed all their lives. For some it was through the memorization of scripture.  To others it was the fine lessons we watched and heard under the excellent teachers of that course. To yet others it was the fannel graphs, the latest colour ones illustrating the bible stories bringing many of the truths to light. Of course those lessons have stood the test of time and have provided each of them with the foundation upon which they built their lives. But it was the songs for me... the simple songs written by this amazing woman of God... It was those songs that I have sung down through the years imbedding them into my subconsciousness and into my story that points the way for me, even in the darkest times. 

It was many many years ago and three ladies from Central Pentecostal Tabernacle Church in Edmonton began a simple yet amazing program to teach little people the truths of the word of God. It was many many years ago when the first theme for Wee College was sounded. Shirley's themes have now echoed across the nation and around the world with clarity and passion. Echoed into the hearts of other little people, other musicians, other pastors and leaders, other men and women of God... in the making. But it was that day that my music, my knowledge and my spirit came to life. And that flame has not extinguished an ounce even to this day.

So with that said, allow me to say thank you to Shirley... When asked at the last general conference in Ottawa she said, "I really did not do much... I only wrote the songs." Not only Shirley... not only. 

Oh wow...look at the time... I can't believe all our minutes have moved so quickly by... it time for our good bye song... remember it everyone for it will help you each day this week until we meet to sing again...

"Wee College is almost over and we are going home....good bye... good bye...be always kind and good... good bye... good bye...be always kind and good."