kids are so cute! new yeared human beings, minature grown ups, kiddoes. whatever you wish to call them, be careful to make sure that it is sweet and innocent, befitting of their enormouse, wide eyed wondering lives. i have the great, life rewarding pleasure (and it truly is a pleasure) of teaching these little ones. it is so awesome for me to see the giant space of life set before them. although i only teach on sunday mornings, these kids have taken my heart and squeezed into it the pure, untainted love that they possess in their own beating hearts. i love ‘em! after church a group of friends will usually go out to eat. one of the little girls in my class and her family were going to eat along with us. she asked her mother if she could ride with me to our point of destination (she didn’t phrase it quite like that). as her mom said yes, a whopping smile grew over that little girls face. we grabbed her car seat from her mom’s car and strapped it into mine. we had some deep talks, yes we did. about vanilla ice cream and tall corn stalks in a passing field, rain drops inside of our flip flops, and dirty feet and toes. her high pitched voice sing songed throughout our lovely little journey. in the midst of our conversation she paused, then said “jayln, do you think you’d like to hang out with me, like…everyday?” i looked in the rear view mirror and saw the expectant smile sprouting upon her face, her big brown eyes held the question like a fragile, hand painted masterpiece. haha, it is an honor to be so highly esteemed in the eyes of a child! of course i replied with a definite yes. she then said “hey, maybe next week we can ride together to dairy queen again!” kids are so worth it. they inflate the heart effortlessly. teaching these kids about God and His ginormous love, shaping caterpillars out of lime green playdough, dancing all around in a kid dance kid of way, making them laugh at stories of camels and camel spit, and helping them step in giant leaps into a Christ centered life…these simple things make life worth the journey. i am reminded to listen and take pleasure in even the slightest comments and gestures from these children….who knew they could teach you so much?
That is so lovely - She is a beautiful sweet girl - and I know how easily she and her sister can touch your heart.
But remember you are touching her life in a huge way as well- A way that she will remember for all her days - you are such a shining light for her and all the little ones lives - God will bless you richly for allowing His love to shine through you and warm all those around you as you do so well.
I love your heart.