Last summer I was the VBS leader of a group of crazy 5th graders. They yelled, ran around, hit each other, and fought. I’m actually laughing right now thinking about how ridiculously crazy those kids were. Lots of them were just straight up naughty, refusing to listen to anyone, and that made for utter chaos at times. It was a really exhausting week for me as I tried my hardest to keep things under control.
But there was one girl in particular that was especially a trouble maker. We’ll call her Kate. One of the first days of VBS, Kate was being teased by a couple of the boys so she retaliated by hurdling her heavy shoes across the room, hitting one of the boys right in the face. She didn’t know how to make friends and she just did whatever she felt like. But she did grow attached to me quickly, always hanging on me and talking to me.
Halfway through the week I learned more about Kate from someone who had talked to the man bringing her to VBS. She lived in another state and was staying with her grandparents for the summer due to bad problems at home. Her grandpa was dropping her and her sister off at VBS to get them out of his hands. When I heard all that, something happened inside of me. My heart broke for this little girl who was starving for love. And a love for her grew inside of me that I can’t explain. Underneath her sassy and rambunctious self was a heart that was hurting. A heart that needed Jesus.
One day I had to leave my class with someone else for an hour to go to a physical therapy appointment, and while I was gone things got a little out of control by the sounds of it. There was fighting and yelling and some of the kids in the class were making fun of Kate. Kate had to leave the class and she sat with my mom (who was working at the front desk) waiting for me to get back. While I was gone I got a text saying, “your girl needs you,” so I was anxious to get back to her. When I got back to the church, Kate ran to me and I hugged her close. We walked hand in hand back to the rest of the class.
The other girls were quick to fill me in on everything that had happened in my one hour absence. Then my mom pulled me aside while my kids were in game time and told me that Kate had been really upset and crying because of the kids being mean to her so she was talking to her and said, “You know, Maggie loves you a lot, Kate.” And she said Kate’s face instantly brightened up as she beamed from ear to ear. While my mom was telling me this I started crying because of my love for this girl.
At the end of the week I was able to give Kate her first Bible and pray over her. I talked to her about Jesus but it was obvious that she wasn’t quite ready to accept Him into her heart. I don’t know exactly where she is now or if I’ll ever see her again but I pray for her often – that she’ll be loved, that she’ll stay out of trouble, and that Jesus would capture her precious heart.
I learned a lot from Kate that week. Through that experience, God taught me about the way He loves me. I rebel, screw up, and am a mess myself, yet God looks at me and all He feels is love. I imagine Him hurting for my hurt, understanding my brokenness, and wanting the very best for me. If I can feel these things for a little girl I just met, I can only imagine the magnitude of what the One who created me feels for me. God used a child to teach me the depth of His love for me.
A little shift in direction – a few months ago I was working at a restaurant, and after a few weeks of it I felt that I needed to be doing something else to be making money. So I put in my two weeks’ notice and started advertising myself for babysitting. It had been awhile since I had frequent babysitting jobs or even really spent much time with kids. That was something I did and loved in my early teen years. But I think God wanted me to be back with the kids.
So to earn money for the World Race I have been babysitting, subbing in different classes in a home school enrichment center, and helping moms with their kids at home. And let me tell you, I have loved it. God has been teaching me a lot through the many kiddos now a part of my everyday life. They have my heart and I have so much love for them all. I have been learning how to better connect with kids, and their joy and creativity is rubbing off on me too. I’m really loving life.
I’ve been thinking about how children’s ministry is probably going to be the most common thing I’ll be doing on the World Race, and I’m glad Jesus has led me to this place where I fully appreciate children and what they have to offer to everyone around them. I feel more prepared for life on the Race and excited for all the relationships with kiddos I’ll form. I know I’ll come across plenty of boys and girls just like Kate, hurting and desperate for love, and I can’t wait to give them all the love I’m capable of giving. Because that is how our Father loves and He calls us to love in the same way.
We all know Jesus’ words – “Let the little children come to me,” and the sentiment behind that. He values children in a special way, and I think that’s obvious in scripture. Jesus is a kid person. And aren’t we to imitate Jesus? I know kids can be annoying and sometimes just a little too much to handle, but they are special. They are important. And if you give them your attention and time, you may be surprised by how much they have to teach you.
