In the beginner children’s church class (ages 3 up through 1st grade), we do a lot of talking about having a happy heart. Some kids today don’t like to obey with a happy heart, and sometimes even display a grumpy heart in class. I knew we needed to stop this quickly. We started talking about Jesus/God wants us to have a happy heart.

I have used this with my own children. The Bible talks about being content no matter what your circumstances are, and a merry heart is like a medicine. Many times God talks about being cheerful, joyful, and content. Martha Washington said, “I’ve learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our disposition and not on our circumstances.” ….Then that brings us to my favorite quote, by me, that I tell my children, “Even Cinderella was cheerful.”

I wanted to teach these young children that no matter what the circumstances are, God wants their hearts to be happy. If their heart is happy, they will respond to their situation better. This is not the main focus of our class, of course we talk about Who God is, the Bible, Who Jesus is, What is sin, and how we can go to heaven when we die. This is something that I have not seen in most curriculum, whether it is church or school. Trust me when I say I have seen a large amount of curriculum when we owned the bookstore.

The first thing I did was to make a large cardboard heart. One side has a happy face, and the other has a grumpy face. The first week we talked about the difference between a happy heart and a grumpy heart. The next week, I read a story that I wrote, “Oliver’s Grumpy Heart”. (Eventually, one day, I will turn this into a picture book, but first I need an illustrator, and then a publisher that is reasonable with publishing cost. Not all Christian companies are honest.)

Last year for Valentine’s Day, we had “Happy Heart” Day in the Beginners class. We got table cloths, plates and napkins with hearts (mostly from the dollar store and Walmart), and made some happy heart face decorations, and then had special treats. The kids loved “Happy Heart” Day. So again this year we had “Happy Heart” Day. We did the same as above, but this year I also read “Oliver’s Grumpy Heart”. We had a good day.

The overall classroom behavior has greatly improved over the time we have been doing this. When I go to pick the class up from choir, I am greeted with lots of smiles. If anyone is grumpy, I ask them where their happy heart is, and they seem to find it quickly.

My own children got me a grumpy squishy frog for Christmas. They bought it because I love frogs. This little frog comes with me to class now. The first week we talked about Mr. Grumpy frog loves to be grumpy and likes grumpy friends. So he would like to sit on the table next to whoever is being grumpy. The kids laughed and laughed. Mr. Grumpy frog later that day, somehow fell off of the podium where I put him. I told the kids that he was being naughty and when you are grumpy you may get into trouble, because grumpy frogs love to be naughty.

The following week, one of the children had a meltdown. We quietly talked about having a happy heart, and that I thought the grumpy frog might be coming out of my bag, because he loves to be with grumpies. The grumpy child did not want the grumpy frog to sit by him. When I placed him on the table (with a splat), he jiggled all around. The other kids laughed. The grumpy child did not. So I made him hop closer and make some faces by squishing and stretching him. Then the little smile came. I said, “you really don’t want the grumpy frog to sit with you, right”. He shook his head no. I told this child that I would put the frog away if I could see a happy heart instead of a grumpy heart. Then suddenly, the biggest smile, and a bit of a giggle came over this child. I said to Mr. Grumpy Frog, “We don’t need you today” and put him away.

Here is the story I wrote. There is a downloadable link at the bottom of the page.

“Oliver’s Grumpy Heart” by Lisa Fike

Oliver’s heart woke up a little grumpy today, and so did his face.

Oliver had to be told to get out of bed THREE times.

He did get dressed quickly, but he could not find his shoes,

and that made his heart a little more grumpy.

Mommy made oatmeal for breakfast.

Oliver did not like oatmeal.

This made Oliver’s heart even MORE grumpy, and his face looked even more grumpy.

Oliver kept playing with his oatmeal.

Mommy told him to eat his breakfast with a HAPPY heart,

But Oliver DID NOT.

Oliver ACCIDENTALLY knocked his oatmeal on the floor,

And the dog ate it.

Now mommy looked sad.

Oliver went to play with his blocks.

His tower was the biggest one he ever made…

Until his baby sister wanted to play too.

She knocked it over,

And laughed and clapped.

Then Oliver’s heart was VERY grumpy.

He called his sister a “BAD BABY”

In his mean voice,

And made her cry.

His face was not only grumpy, it looked mean.

Mommy gave sister some hugs and kisses,

And let her play with the blocks.

Mommy took Oliver to his quiet bottom step.

She told Oliver that he must have a VERY grumpy heart

In order to talk to his sister that way.

His sister is more important than any blocks.

Mommy told Oliver that God wants us to have a HAPPY HEART

And they needed to pray,

And ask God to help Oliver change his GRUMPY heart to a HAPPY heart.

Mommy prayed with Oliver,

And then mommy let Oliver stay on the bottom step

until he had a happy heart.

Mommy went to play with baby sister.

They were having fun stacking the blocks and watching them fall.

They were laughing.

Suddenly, Oliver was not grumpy any more.

He called to mommy…

“Mom, my heart is happy now.”

Mommy gave Oliver a hug

And asked Oliver to tell his sister that he was sorry

for talking mean to her.

Oliver hugged his sister and said he was sorry.

Oliver’s heart truly was HAPPY now.

1. Was Oliver’s heart Happy or Grumpy when he woke up?

2. Was his face happy or grumpy?

3. What did Mommy do to help Oliver?

4. At the end of story, did Oliver have a Happy heart or a Grumpy heart?

5. Was his face happy or grumpy at the end of the story?

Proverbs 15:13a

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: