Me, the Gospel, and a Four Year Old [Pictures]

I walked into the 4 year old classroom on day one and he was pointed out to me.

 

 

“That’s Gibson. He’s new and a little aggressive…a troublemaker. We’ll deal with him, so don’t worry about him.”

 

But I heard something different.

 

“This is Gibson. Love him.”

 

And so I did.

 

 

I attempted to communicate. I high fived. I held. I comforted him when he cried. I helped him color and write numbers and letters. I read books to him. I danced silly dances and sang silly songs. In return, I got slapped. I got pushed. I got kicked. I got jumped on. 

 

Our relationship has gotten better over the course of this month, but it hasn’t been easy. Language barriers are tough. We speak two completely different languages and don’t always understand anything the other says. Most of the time I speak and Gibson runs the opposite direction. I say “sit” and he jumps. I say “stop” and he pushes back. I say “quiet” and he yells louder. And yet somehow, my love for him grows deeper.

 

Looking back on some of my favorite moments with this sweet boy, my heart swells as I see the Father’s love illustrated. Last month in the Philippines, I was James Bryan.

 

This month, I am Gibson.

I am rebellious. Defiant. Confused.

I often run in the opposite direction of where I should go.

I push away.
I don’t always know how to listen and obey.

 

Yet the Father’s love runs deep. The Father’s love doesn’t change.

 

Just as Gibson and I are having to learn to communicate with hand signals, so I’m learning how to hear and respond to the voice of God. And He’s patient with me. Gibson teaches me the patience of the Father every single day.

 

I grow so weary on days when I feel like I’m fighting Gibson…and then it strikes me how often I fight my Father. Yet he never grows weary. He is always patient, kind, and pursues me through the fight. In the large chunks of free time we have this month, I’ve been trying to press into the Gospel and what it means for my life. Growing up in the church, it’s almost like you get desensitized to the power and wonder of it all. I’m reading the Bible like it’s the first time I’ve ever laid eyes on it and it’s wrecking me (in the greatest, most beautiful way you can be wrecked). It’s been an added bonus from the Father to have a tangible expression of his awe-inspiring love in the face of my own sin & rebellion through Gibson. 

 

My heart is so hopeful that Gibson will know the love of the Father for him one day…and that he will teach others like he has taught me. 

 

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This month at the kindergarten has been so great and I’m excited to tell more stories soon about it! We head to Vietnam in a little more than a week and I can hardly believe it. 

 

I am still in need of about $300 to reach my next fundraising deadline (December 1) and about $5000 to be fully funded for the year. If you’re interested in partnering with me financially, you can give online or send a check made out to Adventures in Missions to
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Please be sure you write “MurphreeChelsey” in the memo line so that it’s directed to my account!

 

Also, make sure you bookmark my vimeo page to see videos of our time here! There are only a couple right now, but soon more will be added 🙂