My God's POWERFUL

This summer was the first year we went to Vacation Bible School at church, or BEcation Bible School as Kirby calls it.  I was a little hesitant about it because of the cost.  It was $65 for the week, and I just couldn't quite swallow that cost.  I was complaining about it to one of my MOMS friends, and she asked me to help her as a crew leader with the elementary kids.  The attraction was that I would get a discounted cost for Kirby and free nursery care for Susanna Rose while I was "working."  Now, for those of you who know me, and I'm not proud of this, but I'll be honest...I don't like other peoples' kids.  I do NOT know how teachers do it!!!  I don't like being in charge of others peoples' kids.  I am not an entertainer or a jester.  I'm always looking for a quick break from my own kiddos so why would I want to take on some more?  But hey.  These kids could wipe themselves so I thought that even though it was REALLY outside my box, I'll give it a try.  I signed Kirby and myself up, and boy am I glad I did? 

Three of the most awesome moments from the week, well, ok four...

We were trying to teach the children to look for "God Sightings".   God has the power to comfort.  God has the power to heal.  Each day I was asking Kirby if he had seen any God sightings, and in typical Kirby fashion, he gave me a shoulder shrug and an, "I don't know."   Then finally on Wednesday, he was playing trains on the floor (shocker, huh?), and he jumped up and shouted, "Mom.  Loooooook!  My boo boo is all better."  He jumped up and down with his arms up in the air, and he squealed, "God has the power to HEAL!!"  By God, he got it.  He probably learned more that week of Vacation Bible School about God and talking about God than he has all his little life.  Best $25 spent ever.  And I learned more from my crew, the other volunteers, and Kirby about teaching God to my children than I have in all his little life.  It was a great week for both of us.

On the last day, we learned that God has the power to forgive.  The bible story for the day was the story of Jesus forgiving Peter for his betrayal.  The teens and the bible story crew were amazing with their portrayal of the story for the children to understand it, and the exercise we did was so heart-touching.  They asked each child to close their eyes and think of something they had done to make Jesus sad.  Then they asked each child to come up to their crew leaders (that's me) one-by-one and dip their finger or thumb in some red paint.  They each went to a wooden cross and put their fingerprint on it, saying, "I'm sorry Jesus."   I was choking back the tears, especially as one of my mom friends was witnessing her two boys do it.  So tender and so sweet and so powerful.  Then they asked each crew leader as well.  By the end of the day, the wooden cross was FULL of finger and thumbprints of all sizes, and Jesus had forgiven us all.

On the third day, I let Susanna Rose stay in the gym for all the songs before I took her to the nursery.  She was so cute doing all the movements and dancing and singing along.  Love her sweet heart (when she WANTS to be sweet!!!!!  Yikes!)  

Last night, a friend of mine whose son was in my crew, stopped me to tell me what an impact I had had on her Alex.  I couldn't believe it.  I feel like I have so much growth to do in my own spiritual journey and so much that I am learning from others.  How could I be teaching?  On the last day, my fellow crew leader and I gave each child a rosary and a little note from ourselves.  Apparently sweet Alex is forgoing books at night so he can say a decade on his rosary, a glow-in-the-dark rosary I might add.  Super cool.  She told me that when she leaves his room and can hear him still saying Hail Mary's with his rosary in his hands.  Made my heart swell. 

Sometimes I think it is hard to see God working in your life because I'm looking for these HUGE time-stopping moments where I HEAR the voice of God.  So silly of me.  I lose sight of the fact that  He truly is all around me every moment of every day.  He's in my friend, Sarah, asking me to share this leadership position with her.  He's in all the volunteers who shared their amazing talents - from arts and crafts to singing and acting on stage; and from bible stories acted out by the teens to the reflections provided by the adults; and from the game-leaders wrangling the screaming and running kiddos to the ladies who organized this amazing week of 300+ kids from their living rooms and kitchen tables; and most especially from watching Kirby from a bird's eye view singing the songs and talking with him about all he was learning.  I was amazed by the work we can all do if we JUST do the work.  Why have I always shied away from these volunteer efforts?  Yeah, yeah, I'm not an entertainer or comfortable correcting other children or whatever other excuse I might give, but if I don't do it, I don't see some of God's most miraculous wonders all around me.

I'm soo thankful for my church home and for my friend convincing me to volunteer in what I thought was going to be a difficult role for me so I could get Kirby to a nourishing and Christ-filled week.  WHO KNEW it would be more rewarding and fruitful week for me.  God truly is POWERFUL.  And you better believe we will ALL three be signing up next year. Oh and guess who is enrolled in Religious Ed and who is volunteering to teach???  Hoping to learn from my classroom kids as much as I did from my VBS kids if not more.