I remember sitting there in awe. It was month one in Guatemala and one of my squad mates spoke over me that I had a gift of working with children. I vividly remember thinking “what?!” and “you’re crazy. Not gonna happen.” Well, here is insight into how the last year drastically changed my response about children.
As a future World Racer, I assumed working with children would happen. This made me quite nervous as I was intimidated by the idea of working in an orphanage or anything with kids. Little did I know that during the time leading up to the Race, my perceptions would be severely challenged and gratefully so since I’ve worked with kids every month!
What do you think about children? No, really. What do you think about them?
What is their value & worth?
What do they have to offer?
If you don’t have children, do you want any?
If you would have asked me these questions a year ago, my answers would have looked something like this:
Children don’t have much to offer now and were only worth what they could offer someday. They weren’t human beings with a unique perspective, gifts, and insight. Their naivety and ability to easily trust was annoying instead of something to be admired. I was strongly against having my own children as they take up too much energy, time, and resources. I love my freedom. I don’t see what they could add to my life and I’m not good with them.
Sounds harsh, huh? Well, it was. Gratefully, over the past year all of these perceptions were completely challenged in three profound ways.
1. I Saw What Children Are Capable Of
In December 2012, me and my awesome friend Christalyn decided to move into a home with a family from our church. I was excited to move to a new neighborhood and live with Helen & Andy. Two incredible people that I came to deeply respect and admire in many ways. There was only one thing that threatened my vision of harmony. They had a 6 year old daughter named Marigold. I remember my closest friends laughing and aptly saying “you know God’s gonna change your heart towards children, right?” I was terrified. I didn’t know the least bit about kids. What would we talk about? What would we do? Truth is, I was intimidated and ashamed. I mean, who doesn’t love kids? What’s wrong with me?
Well, God used Marigold to do exactly what my friends predicted. I never thought I could be at a loss for words in describing a child, but Marigold completely challenged my perceptions of kids. She is creative, sassy, witty, self-aware, outgoing, open-minded, and compassionate. She is a natural born leader, entrepreneur, and is the best karaoke & dance partner I could imagine. She brought so much joy in my life and taught me so much. Marigold opened my eyes to just how capable children are and most importantly that they have much to contribute as they are today, not just in the future.
2. My Eyes Were Opened to the Atrocities Committed Towards Children.
I’ve always been aware of the varying acts of violence and abuse towards children, but it wasn’t until I began to have relationships with them that I began to understand the uniqueness of atrocities committed against them; the one-time and the accumulated.
This insight was cemented as I walked through healing from my childhood this past year. God showed me that much of my wrong thinking and patterns started there. I really began to see that in fact Satan’s assault against me started in the womb. As I tackled my own issues, I realized just how much our treatment as children impact our sense of self, others, and Jesus. In Too Small To Ignore: Why The Least of These Matter Most, Wes Stafford boldly proclaims “How a child feels about his or her future has everything to do with what is going on in their life today.” This revelation brought me to the final and most important change in my heart towards children.
3. I Am Responsible for Children
Because my heart was hardened towards children and I honestly didn’t enjoy them, I concluded early on in life that I had no role in their lives and they had none in mine. As I got older and came to follow Jesus, this translated to “I’m not responsible for children because I am not ‘called’ to work with them. I work with college students, that’s where my gifting lies.” The reality is that much of my work as a Student Affairs professional was helping students identify, confront, and undo a lot of what happened & what they were taught as children. Truth be told, many of us are paying the price for our own upbringing which came directly out of what our parents, teachers, and others believed about children: who we were, what we could contribute, and what we could handle.
Because of this, I now wholeheartedly believe that it truly takes a village to raise children, we are all responsible for what happens to them, and will pay the costs for negligence.
Now when I encounter a child I wonder:
· What are they experiencing right now and how will it impact them?
· What do they enjoy? What innate skills and talents do they have? How can we use their gifts right now?
· Will they come to know Jesus…the One who deeply loves children and still advocates on their behalf?
I’ll admit that I am still awkward with kids. I try, but they still intimidate me! I mean things are so simple for themJ However, it’s been a fun 5 months working with kids. I am so grateful for the many kids put in my path this year. I can’t express how much it means to be able to speak words of life and encouragement to them. To make them smile and laugh and just love them. To hear their dreams and give them hope. It’s a beautiful thing to have the chance to influence a child. I now know it’s something to be treasured and taken seriously. Don’t believe me? Think about your own wounds or those close to you. Want to do things differently? Think about those who made a difference in your life as a kid. Most importantly, have fun in the process and remain teachable. They know more than you think!
How can you better love the kids around you?
MAKE A DONATION: I still need $2,845 to cover the cost for this trip. If you are able to support me financially, click SUPPORT ME” on the left to make a tax-deductible donation. Or, cut out the small online processing fee by mailing a check to:
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
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