Olivia Beaverson has taught at The Academy for GOD Preschool for several years, growing from an assistant teacher to a lead teacher who contributes to the ongoing development of Preschool's curriculum. She has written songs for multiple Preschool themes, utilizing her gifting and education in the field of Early Childhood Education. Olivia loves to create engaging activities for her preschool students, drawing on her love of music, science, and nature to enrich everyday experiences.
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Olivia Beaverson
This month, The Academy for GOD Preschool is learning Law #6: Don’t Hit Anyone, which is an adapted version of the 6th of the Ten Commandments. I have been asked to recount the process I went through to write the preschool song that accompanies this law. I’m going to do so by telling a story that includes a prison in Uganda, a broken justice system, Jesus and a demoniac, and a boy with a strong man toy. These elements might seem wildly unrelated, but you’ll never know how connected they are unless you read on…
In 2023, I spent a lot of time thinking about Law #6. That summer, I traveled abroad to Uganda with the Institute for G.O.D., where my team visited a prison. The trip facilitator and founder of G.O.D. International, Gregg Garner, pointed out that many of the men there were innocent, but even for those who weren’t, there was no effort to rehabilitate them. He later expanded on the concept of rehabilitating individuals who have been pushed out of society or are struggling to reintegrate. Central to these rehabilitative efforts is education.
I’ve always had a heart for students who struggle to participate with the whole class due to challenges in managing their emotions and behavior. Because of this, Law #6 is one of my favorite laws. I learned early on in biblical education that people are made in God’s image. While we don’t have a visual image of God, we can see what He does. From the beginning, He brings order to chaos through His words. Words are integral to bringing order to chaotic moments. However, it’s all too common to see people speaking less and less as they get older, or the more challenging it becomes to find the words to express thoughts and feelings.
Developing the ability to articulate is difficult, and in moments of intense emotion or chaos, it’s not something people often turn to. But it is the example we see in Jesus.
In Mark 5, Jesus and His disciples encounter a man who has been pushed to the edge of his society, living among tombs, howling, and even turning to violence. The people in his society didn’t know how to help or respond, so they did what was easier: they pushed him away. Jesus meets him there and helps the man use his words to identify what is causing his behavior. There are many fascinating details in this story, but for brevity’s sake, once Jesus understands what is controlling the man, He responds appropriately by casting out the spirit. The man is left sitting, clothed, and in his right mind—able to learn from Jesus. Jesus could have easily been frightened by the man and seen him as a threat, but instead, He responded by prompting the man to use his words, stepping into the moment with him, and teaching him. The result is miraculous, but that doesn’t mean it’s not replicable.
The principles I learned from how Jesus responded in that moment have informed how I respond to students and people when they need help and restoration. I’ve learned not to be content with pushing a student away because of challenging behavior but to step into the complex process of helping them become articulate human beings made in the image of God. These were some of the thoughts that kept going through my mind in 2023. One day, as a student played with a "Strong Man" toy, destroying towers and knocking over other toys, I paused to reflect on what it really means to be "strong."
In Mark 5, Jesus seemed stronger than anyone else in the man’s society because He was able to help restore him when no one else could. But what was it that made Jesus strong? These were the questions I pondered while writing the lyrics to the song below:
Song Lyrics:
It takes someone strong
To not hit anyone.
When you huff and puff,
It can be so tough,
To let all you do, be done,
Be done in love.
So put on your muscles
That help you give hugs,
And switch on your brains
That help you discuss. (That means talk!)
You use your words when you're hurt,
And you will grow strong.
Now breathe, and speak in love! (x2)
And remember, if you want to be strong,
Don’t hit anyone!
While it might sound childish or simple, when you think about the impact these lyrics can have on a young, developing mind, it doesn’t seem so small anymore. Redefining strength, according to Jesus’ example, means someone who can exercise self-control and choose to articulate their thoughts and feelings rather than acting out or resorting to violence. It's about helping kids understand what their muscles are made for—teaching them that their efforts and work should be motivated by love.
I could go deeper into each line, but when it comes down to it, violence is incredibly destructive, yet all too common in our world. It is not something God desires or intended. But in order for people to act differently, they need to understand what they were created for, and they need a path through challenging and chaotic moments.
My hope for the next generation is that they will be people who are characterized by love, who are competent enough to articulate their thoughts and feelings, and who will use their words to bring order and restoration for others still in need of that same development. I hope this song helps with that. :)
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