Yesterday I was a “fill-in” volunteer. Someone was sick and we needed someone to help the teacher for our Kingdom Kids. I was happy to jump into such an important job. First, I joined our team upstairs as we prayed before the service and then spent a couple of minutes of silence to listen for what we think Jesus may want to do in folks’ lives that morning.
One of our team members had an impression of a student walking through school and asking Jesus to help them and feeling that he wanted to touch their heart that day. There were a few other encouraging thoughts, so we prayed for each other and went on our way.
Our class of ten children came down. I listened to my group talk about their week at school, how they think they could show kindness to others. Then we played a game to learn our verse. After that it was craft time and almost time for the service to end, and my substitute job would be over. Just then I remembered that picture of that student. So I started to share with the kids how we prayed before the service and someone got a picture of a student that —
But I didn’t get any further than that before a little 6-year-old boy’s hand shot into the air, “It’s me, it’s me, it’s me!” he said. “I feel like all I do is get yelled at in school. I can’t figure out what I do wrong, and how to change. I need Jesus to help me.”
The other kids gathered around and prayed for him, and encouraged him, and his face lit up with the biggest smile. [bctt tweet=”The kids came around, prayed 4 him & encouraged him. His face lit up w/ a big smile -Sherri Harder” quote=”The other kids gathered around and prayed for him, and encouraged him, and his face lit up with the biggest smile.”]
You know, we always talk about appreciating volunteers, and I do, I really do. It’s just that I can’t get that boy’s face out of my mind, and I can’t stop thinking about a God who loves a 6-year-old enough to give a picture to a group of people who are praying, just to encourage that young boy. Maybe volunteers need to hold an appreciation day for the churches, schools, hospitals, and other places we serve. They provide the opportunity for us to be a hero in someone’s life, even if just for a brief moment. Maybe when we’re asked to serve, our hands should likewise go up and say “It’s me, it’s me, it’s me.”
Jesus said it best in Matthew 18:3. “For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, ‘I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.’”
Sherri Harder- Co-Pastor, The Vineyard Church (Des Moines, IA)
