I could have gone the traditional route
and made my first post on either a “Get to know me” or a post of a recent session….I felt that was a too rehearsed approach. So I decided to make my first post about my experience this past week through serving…not with a camera….with just myself.
Two Sunday’s ago at the end of the sermon it was mentioned they needed help with more volunteers for Vacation Bible School. What instantly entered my brain was “I can help and God calls us to use our gifts”
(Romans 12)
I didn’t plan on serving this way….
but when the call for help presented itself I couldn’t say no….I mean how could I….that would essentially be turning away from helping God’s children…and I didn’t want to answer God’s question to me one day of: “WHY DIDN’T YOU HELP?” with: “I DON’T KNOW.”
When I wrote my name down to help with the kindergarten age group I felt two things:
1. Obedience toward God and
2. Unsureness…. because I didn’t know what serving in VBS looked like.
I’ll be honest I didn’t grow up thinking VBS was life changing.
I remember snack time being the best part….and honestly….so did the kids this week too. However as a volunteer standing on the other side of the classroom this time, I saw something different. Kids were absorbing more than sugar and songs…they were absorbing stories, scripture and simple truths.
They might not have looked deeply moved-but they were listening and it made me realize how often we assume something has to feel profound in order to be meaningful.
At this age they don’t analyze the Bible….they hear it, repeat it and receive it…and that made me realize that formation doesn’t always feel like transformation. Sometimes it’s quiet repetition, a simple exposure, or a room full of kids learning the “Jesus Love’s me” song in sign language while eating gold fish.
This past week and experience has made me think about my own life and how often I underestimate the slow work God is doing in me because it doesn’t feel dramatic.
Watching the kids soak up truth-even if they looked distracted-made me realize I very much might be doing the same. Just because something doesn’t feel big or emotional doesn’t mean it’s not shaping me.
I honestly didn’t plan on making this my first blog post
I thought I would have written either a more in depth introduction about me or a couples maternity session welcoming their first baby into the world.
However I always want to show up in real life, not solely in curated images because honestly showing up in real life is what it’s all about and remembering that the small, quiet, practical things matter.
Volunteering at VBS reminded me it’s okay to start small, to start slow, and to start with something true-even if it’s just that snack time still rules.😂
