The Children Climb Everest

One of my favorite things about VBS (Vacation Bible School) is being able to speak encouragement into the children I'm blessed to teach.  This year I was with kids going into 4th grade and truly, it's become my favorite so far.  The age  is such that they can write on their own, are able to articulate their feelings more and with this particular group, they just didn't have the hang-ups and self-consciousness that can creep in as a child gets older.

We did the Everest curriculum and it led to moving and powerful conversations as we talked about God's ability to provide, comfort, heal, forgive and love us forever.  From the first day, our kids blessed us with their open hearts.  When I asked, "What do you wish God would provide?", I have to admit I expected our kids to go to the material: bikes, iPads, toys etc.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  Instead, the first little guy I called on said, "I want my mom and dad to get back together. They're divorced."  This precious little soul didn't think about what God could put in his hands.  His needs were a heart matter, one of reconciliation and healing.  All I wanted to do was scoop him into my lap and hug him for the rest of the day.  It was his tender heart that would send the rest of the week into a trajectory of a deeper fellowship with these children, and between them.  His opening answer gave the rest of our class a safe place to share their own hearts and boy, did they.  As the week progressed, this is what we shared and bonded over:

- Parents were prayed for. 

From a child who is homeschooled: "I want my mom to spend time with ME so we can just talk and have fun. All we do is school."

"I want my parents to stop fighting at night." (Several children voiced their agreement with this request.)

- More than half my kids had already experienced the death of a close loved one.

-Siblings were prayed for. 

"I want God to help me not fight with my brother." 

One child: "My older sister is getting into trouble running with the wrong crowd."

A different child: "I want my sister to stop telling me I'm the reason her life is bad."

-We talked about bullying.

"People call me names."

"I have someone that tells me I'm going to be nothing when I grow up."

(In this conversation, I got to share a coping strategy I share with my daughter we call "Shields Up!": Someone may speak negativity to you but it doesn't mean we have to allow it to be spoken OVER us and we certainly don't have to receive it. If that happens, think or say, "Shields Up!" and just let the words BOUNCE OFF. Adults need this one too!)

-And more.

"I'm going to ask my uncle to come to church. I like being here more than I like being at home. I want him to know what this feels like."

One child started her week with tears and  another didn't really have an active faith life at home.  It was AWESOME to tell the parents by the end of the week that both kids had VOLUNTEERED to help lead music on STAGE. The looks of surprised delight on their faces is a forever treasure. 

Our kids were  boys and girls of different ethnicities who had varied familial dynamics and all manner of socioeconomic backgrounds.  What they had in common was their love for God.  These kids modeled FAITH for me. All our crew leaders, both youth and adult, were MOVED in the most unexpected ways and these kids brought the Bible to LIFE for us.

THANK YOU to everyone who worked so hard to prepare our VBS.  It was a blessing beyond measure.

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said:“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:2-3