Sometimes the lessons we need to learn most are the ones we almost miss. The ones that happen when we least expect them. The ones that are taught on a random Thursday night—a Thursday night which feels pointless. Such as the night when two of my teammates and I were asked to go babysit.
We had met the family we would babysit for at a home-church service that was hosted at their house one evening. And by home church service, I mean that we ate delicious cake sweet enough to give you diabetes, drank juice, and shared our testimonies. It was wonderful. And because each of us had slightly fallen in love with the parents, we offered to come over and babysit their daughter one evening.
Sarah Anne, Erin, and I were told that we would be picked up at five on Thursday night to begin this adventure. And although we spent that day dwelling on how great this quality time together was going to be, we also realized how unnecessary it was for three of us to go watch this one little girl. So it will come as no surprise that we were a little confused when we learned that our contact and her daughter would also be joining us. Five of us, one three-year-old—it was slightly amusing. And the amusement only continued to escalate.
Now, tell me if I have been misinformed, but for the past 15 years that I have been babysitting, the routine is usually consistent—I arrive, the parents leave, and the child stays. I come over, the parents tell me where the juice boxes are, how the bathtub works, and which stories will prove most successful at bedtime, and then they leave. However, on this particular evening, that was not the case.
Upon arriving, in addition to receiving the typical greetings and snacks, we also received the big news that the parents were in fact not leaving. Interesting. However, after two hours of just hanging out, they changed their minds and decided to go somewhere. “Ah, now we get to babysit!” we thought. But we were wrong. Because not only were the parents leaving, but they were taking the child with them! And they were sending other family members over to visit with us until they returned. So essentially, rather than babysitting, we were in fact the ones getting babysat. And as I sat in the middle of the sea of everyone speaking Serbian and kept embarrassingly nodding off, I couldn’t help but ponder why in the world we had even come. And I almost gave up hope and deemed the night as wasted.
But then, it happened.
And once again, I was wrong.
Because the parents eventually came home. And when they did, the mom gave each of the three of us a gift- something that she owned that she wanted us to have. And as the other two girls opened their shirts, I unfolded the mint green scarf placed before me. A mint green scarf embroidered with the words “Kraljeve kceri”. And although I was thankful, I didn’t realize how beautiful it was until her translated words reached my ears: “Kraljeve kceri- Daughter of the King” she said.
Now, I am aware that most of you probably have never heard my testimony—that wouldn’t surprise me at all. But if you have, you know that this was the concept that was the most difficult for me to grasp. A concept that once I did realize changed my whole perspective- my whole life, really. And apparently, a concept that changed hers as well. Something that I should have caught onto that first night she had heard my testimony due to the overwhelming look of cognizance that covered her face as I concluded. But as she translated these words, and proceeded to hold both of my arms and look me straight in the eyes, and tell me how her story so closely aligned with my own, and how I am God’s daughter and that I am loved, it finally sank in. And it was beautiful. It was beautiful that she had really listened to my story. And the connection between us founded from a place of mutual understanding was even more beautiful. And as I looked down at this random mint green scarf, it was evident that this was the best gift she could have given me. Because it wasn’t only a scarf but a reminder of the ultimate love—the exact reminder I needed to hear that particular night. It was evidence that my story does in fact have an impact. And that it is important for me to share it. And it confirmed that I was called here for a reason and that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
What I have come to realize is that God is going to teach me what he wants to teach me- I just have to be open and let him. I just have to give him the chance. And have faith in even the things and moments that are seemingly trivial and irrelevant. Because it is the small things that happen when you least expect it that can have the greatest impact. Even on a random Thursday night when you are getting babysat and have no idea what is going on. Even through a random mint green scarf. Lessons are being taught- you just have to choose to be faithful and pay attention.
