This past week, I was blessed to be able to help out with Vacation Bible School at my church. We had almost 100 kids attend VBS this year and each and every one of those smiling faces gave me SO MUCH joy. I left the church each day ready to go back and love on those kids again. God was totally present through the entire week. I was thoroughly blessed by kids who are 10+ years younger than me.
Honestly, walking into this week, I was not expecting much. I thought VBS would be a lot of stress and chasing kids around for 28 hours. However, on the first day, I found out how wrongly mistaken I was. I was able to meet my small group and I instantly fell in love with their sweet hearts. One kid that God has really tugged at my heart with all week has been a little third-grade boy named Bebo.
I knew of Bebo because I have heard about their family through Facebook and the church. Bebo is one child of almost 9 kids (another baby due in August). Bebo was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2016. When I saw Bebo’s name on my list, my heart skipped a little bit. I didn’t really have any expectations but I knew I was really excited to get to know him.
When Bebo walked into the church that day, with his younger brother Leeland with him, I knew right there that God was going to do something this week. I got to know both of these boys over the span of 4 days and their hearts are just so pure. Bebo and I played basketball against each other during free-time on the first and second day and he just projected a calmness. Bebo is an extremely kind, loving, faithful, energetic, respectful, and passionate kid. He has a heart made out of gold.
The hardest thing for me to do was to go home after hanging out with these sweet kids all day. God really showed through each and every day and when I went home to peace and quiet, I started to develop feelings of sadness.
This sweet, sweet boy is dealing with something I could not even imagine. If I didn’t know about Bebo beforehand, I wouldn’t even know he has cancer. Bebo is an active little kid. Bebo is able to play alongside the other kids and he is just as fast as they are. I do not know what I was expecting, however, I didn’t think he would be able to do all the activities. Praise God that Bebo is able to run around and have so much energy; thank you Lord! However, what has really made me sad is the realization of what Bebo has to deal with behind the scenes. Bebo has to take many trips to and from the hospital, take chemo treatments, deal with headaches and stomach aches and fevers, and sometimes has to step back from things he loves to do. Now, this is still only the beginning of what I know about the circumstance. It hurts me to think about the fear and pain that Bebo experiences. However, God still is still very much present. Bebo has an extremely supportive group of family and friends and God has given him many things to be excited about. Even with all of that, the thought of cancer in a young life is scary.
Now that VBS is over, I am still feeling a little bit of sadness that I am trying to navigate around. I have cried myself to sleep many nights the past week just thinking of the situation that Bebo and his family are going through. However, like my friend told me, “God has Bebo and his family in the palm of His hand.” God has BIG plans for Bebo. Bebo and the other kids that God brought into my life this week have caused me to rethink the goodness of the Father. Many times, I have cried out to God asking why He would allow painful things like cancer happen to such small, precious children. However, God used these kids to show me that even though circumstances are not always fair, God is always good. And although Bebo is dealing with something a kid his age should never have to deal with, I need to realize that he is taking it like a champion. Why? Because he has faith in God. God has performed numerous miracles and healings and Bebo’s breakthrough is coming. Until then, lots of bold prayers and faith in a good Father.
