I tell you........ I'm confused and perturbed and amazed all at the same time. Here's what happened.
I thought I'd been watching and listening for God to tell me how to respond to the kids that show up on Wednesday nights to eat at the potluck meal. I really thought I understood what God wanted us to do to show the kids that we not only care that they have food in their tummies, but also that they have food for their souls.
So, I put signs on the tables last week, telling the kids to come to the balloon table after they finished their meal. Then this week, I went thru the supply room and found crafts, games, treats, coloring pages and crayons. I was ready. I knew the kids could only stay there until Mom and Dad were ready to go home, so I planned quick activities or things the kids could take home.
When I arrived tonight, I looked around the room. Where were the kids? There weren't any kids old enough to hold a crayon without eating it. What sort of a mean joke was God playing? There were two babies, but the games and the take-home treats were no good for babies.
So, I stopped and looked around. I had a short and rather heated discussion with God to let God know that I was confused, angry and hurt that he hadn't helped with the plan. After all, I thought it was God's plan. When did the plan change and why wasn't I notified? God told me there was a new plan. The babies could each have a balloon. One of the mentally disabled adults got a balloon, too. He was so very excited and even tho he doesn't speak, I knew he was saying thank you. Another young man took a balloon, saying he was going to write a note to his dad, tie the note onto the string and then let it float up to heaven. That's what he did.
We put the games, coloring pages and crayons back in the closet and will save those for another time. Of course, we gave away all the balloons, but that's ok...... those balloons gave great joy to the ones who received them. We'll blow up more balloons next week and maybe get the other things out of the closet, just in case God changes the plan again. You never know. I wonder what will happen next week........
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ReplyDeleteWednesday 9-9-09 we tried this again and this time we had three kids who came over to play games. We had a cotton ball race, using drinking straws to blow our cotton balls over the side of the table first. Everyone got a prize -- even some of the adults, just because we wanted to pass on the message of Jesus' love.
We'll keep trying.
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ReplyDeleteWednesday 10-20-09, I couldn't keep track of all the kids tonight. There were a dozen or so, maybe more. When we thought that everyone was headed home, we gave the kids their take-home stories and put away the activities. But they didn't go home.... and the parents didn't pay attention, but just let them run. So, I started playing "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar" with them. All they need is for someone to pay attention and to love them. Kids learn love when they are shown love. Isn't that what God calls us to do? Isn't that what Christian community is for? Love God and love each other.