Panic began
creeping into my bones, what had I done? It would be a year commitment, and we
both take commitment very seriously. I was missing my Grandchildren that had up
until recently lived only 15 minutes away, but due to parents that loved and
needed their careers they were now 8 hours away living literally in a Magic
Kingdom, where Cinderella and Mickey are their new neighbors. Visits are few,
and FaceTime is great but it can’t give you a hug or that sweet precious aroma
of a grandchild.
So, we
started our journey into the preschool ministry. Wow, so many things have
changed since ours were that little; computer sign in with stickers for the
child and the parent, background checks, emergency policies, all great and much
needed things in today’s crazy world but also kind of sad too. You don't really
get a chance to know the parents’ names because you are too busy matching
stickers and making sure that the children collect all of that mornings
projects before leaving.
On our first
Sunday, we quickly felt our age (50 something); tiny tables, tiny chairs,
sitting on the floor in crisscross applesauce style, the children were little
(newly three) and we would have to squat to hear their tiny voices with our not
so great hearing. There were tears at the door, letting go of Mom and Dad,
there were some growing pains for all of us those first few weeks, and I
thought to myself, ok Lord, am I in the right place?
After a few weeks,
we found ourselves buying floor puzzles and treats, and we were talking about
the children by their NAMES. We were attached! I found myself looking forward
to looking at the lesson plans and learning the bible verse, looking forward to
seeing their sweet faces as they worshiped in big group in song and watching
them listen to the story. I even found myself going back to my own time as a
child in Sunday School and how much I loved Miss Rhetta and Miss Francis. I
loved hearing the simplicity of the stories, told so that a child can take it
to heart, and believe me they do. I loved watching how these children see no race,
no color, no language barriers, how they care for one another when one is
hurting, or how they give up that baby doll that they love so much because a
friend wants to play with it. I loved watching them turn from 3 to 4 and how
their tiny hands that just scribbled at first were now coloring works of art
and signing their names, I loved watching my 6’2” husband on the floor with kids
climbing on top of him like he was a mountain with pure joy in their eyes, or
the time he had to stay home because he was sick, they immediately asked me,
" where is Mr. Michael?" I
loved that by the end of the year the ones that were so hesitant walked in and
ran into our arms for hugs, that the little girl that would never say a word
was now our master puzzle solver and always had a grin on her face. I loved
handing them back to their parents, and seeing how much they are loved and
cherished, and hearing thank you for taking care of our child. My heart ACHED a
little when a Grandparent picked up a child, oh what I would give to spend
every Sunday with my two.
The time
flew by, the year was up, changes are coming, our little group is moving up and
we are also a year older with new issues that life has thrown us, so we are not
serving in the children's ministry for now. Our last Sunday was sparse, I am
sure that parents are getting ready for their kids going back to school and
most of ours would be starting pre-K. I
wanted to tell every parent, thank you! Thank you for sharing your child!
Oh, the
lessons I have learned. You see, sometimes we think that we are serving to meet
someone else's need when God knows that he is meeting ours.
