Teaching the four-year-olds on Sunday is a long game. Some of them will remember your kindness for life.

Nothing about an hour with small children feels significant while it is happening. They will not remember the lesson and neither will you. What some of them keep is much simpler: that a bigger kid was patient with them and seemed glad they were there. That memory can outlast everything else in the room.

Around younger children, at church or at home or babysitting, aim low and be kind. Learn their names and use them. Give up on being impressive, because the thing they keep is how you made them feel at four.