points, something common place took on a new meaning…
Our typical kids program involved games, songs, and a bible
lesson. We usually finished up the game
portion with the obstacle course…kids love a good obstacle course. I went last and was blindfolded and tried to
make my way through what the kids had just accomplished minutes before. Stumbling through the different stations, I
quickly required help from an outside source. With another person’s help, I was able to better navigate my way through
the course. After completing it, we went
on to tell the story of the healing of a blind man. Just as I needed help when I was temporarily
without my vision, so did the blind man in his everyday life. Jesus healed the blind man and after, the man
began to praise and thank God.
After reviewing the story with the kids, we asked them what
they could praise and thank God for. Following
a few examples, the kids started to chime in. Most of their answers were repeating what we had said, until one boy
spoke up and said, “I am thankful to be alive.” Hmmm…ok. I’ve heard that one
before. Heck, I’ve said that one
before. But when I heard it from a five
year old boy who had tattered clothing on, hadn’t eaten a meal that day, and
was looking after other kids as if he were their father, the reality of its
meaning hit me with a new weight.
I believe that this boy knew what he was saying, but whether
he knew exactly or not wasn’t the point God was trying to get across. God was asking if I believed that every day
is a gift from Him and whether I relied on Him or something else during it. Sure I’d heard it before, I’d said it before,
but did I remember that God had allowed me to wake up, to take a breath, and to
have a chance to look to Him to sustain me? More often than not, I wake up thinking about my own agenda, how I’m
going to make it through another day on my own, and subconsciously I look to
what I’ve built and have in place so I don’t have to rely on God. Take away all the comforts I have, all the
rights I’ve been given, all the privileges I’ve been born with…I think I might
realize and be more thankful for the fact that I have another day to seek God
and realize that He alone sustains me.
