Just as Children

Posted by paigeoverstreet on Oct 25, 2010 in Daily Bread | 3 comments

I love working with Kids Ministry. I love being with the children, from infants to elementary age. I even like middle schoolers and way-too-cool high-school teenagers! One of my favorite things to do with kids is talk with them. I like the challenge of figuring out something of interest to them, calling their name, then watching their faces almost literally light up if you hit on one of their passions.

On Sunday I had a few great conversations. They were short, but I felt good about my time with the children. It helped to have an air show going on around the church this past weekend. Since planes are my oldest son’s greatest passion (and one of his dad’s as well), I’ve learned a few things about flying machines. But it didn’t really matter what I knew – all I had to do was bring up the topic and listen to the excitement in their voices. Michael told me how he got on the roof with his dad and watched the Blue Angels in their amazingly close formations on Saturday. His eyes got really big and his voice conveyed how much he enjoyed this time. Asher talked to me about Fat Albert flying in, and how he got to go to the base with his dad on Saturday and see so many cool things. I was thankful that I knew Fat Albert is the C-130 that carries all the Blue Angels gear to each air show, but even if I had thought he was talking about my beloved childhood cartoon character, it wouldn’t have mattered. He knew I was listening, and he was passionate about what he was telling me. Our family watched “How to Train Your Dragon” on Saturday night, and I remembered that Russell and William had seen it. When I mentioned to them that I had just viewed it the night before, they were anxious to tell me their favorite parts, with their voices and hands and eyes.

I love listening to these children, and it makes me happy to see joy in them. I’m thankful God gives me this picture to remind me that He enjoys listening to me, too. I tend to be a person that thinks I shouldn’t bother someone, they’re most likely busy, I shouldn’t call them, or flag them down if I see them. And I subconsciously apply this to God as well. I know he wants me to pray to Him, but I don’t really get that he is glad to talk with me, even anxious for me to sit with him – that he enjoys hearing from me.

I’m thankful for another week of 24/7 prayer. The sanctuary is an awesome entry into prayer with our Father. I was gone most of last week, out of town, but was able to get by for a bit on Friday. I didn’t however, get to the room with the empty chair across from me. I so look forward to going back this week to sit and talk with my heavenly Father, who calls my name and then listens to me with joy (hey – I can probably do this at home, too!). I know I need to be quiet as well, but children reminded me this week that God, as our creator, knows us, calls our name, and wants to spend time with us. I think He gets excited about the joy in our faces and voices (or understands the pain) just as we do when talking to children.