In His eyes I am…

            My days at PopUp are coming to an end, but before they do, I wanted to give you a brief snapshot of my main ministry; PopKids. Every day, Monday to Friday, I walk to my classroom where the most adorable children are waiting for me. They run to me, hugging my legs-often times clinging to them- while shouting  “Mama.”
The babies I watch at PopKids are between ages 1 and 2. It’s a sweet age where their biggest joy is watching you make a silly face; you can play peek-a-boo for hours, then dance like crazy, and make them giggle at the smallest things. There are also the children that remain quiet, aloof and distant. I wonder what their little story is, what home is like, what makes them so quiet, never smiling, never laughing.
            On the daily average, I watch 8 to 10 of these little ones. I help feed them, bathe them, teach them, read stories to them, play with them-which really means sitting on the floor as they crawl all over me like a jungle gym. I clean up after them, wipe snotty noses, put them down for nap time, hug or hold them when they’re crying, teach them new words in English like “shoes” “Thank you” “be nice” “no hitting” “gentle” and “share.”  I’ve had the joy to hold these little ones, pray over them and their lives, sing Jesus songs with them, and tell them some simple bible stories.
             Along with the children, I’ve had the incredible joy of making some South African friends- Primrose and Charlotte- the children’s teachers, caretakers, and friends. These ladies know how to stop a crying baby in a snap and make a chaotic classroom of 2 year olds pay attention in under 15 seconds. Our conversations about Pretoria, friends, America, drama, the Race, our upbringings, God, and boys have made my time here at PopUp feel like home.
            I have loved working with “my kids” and it has been such a joy, such a delight, to invest in their lives. My hope is that I have planted some small seeds of love, tenderness, peace, and joy in their hearts; they certainly have mine.

One day I took my journal while watching my kids and began to jot down all the adjectives I thought best described them.
            This is what I wrote:

             This month I’ve been working through a lot of my identity- Who am I, really? I’ve been searching, asking God to speak the truth- who He says I am and how He sees me. As I looked across their sweet faces, I asked God if this is how he feels about his children, about me. A resounding “Yes” filled my heart and every time I see their faces I reminded of the truth of His love for us. We are messy people, we are “stubborn nose pickers” and we are “needy,” but the Father loves us, is crazy for us, and loves when we listen to Him, even when we don’t. He delights in us and we bring Him such great joy. I am His child and he loves me, tenderly.