Thanks to the Teachers of the Kids!

Do your know them?

I know a group of people. They are people who work full time, either at home or in businesses around our area. Some are married and some are not. Most have children. Most spend their mornings in a rush, feeling like they are behind even before they get started and they spend their evenings at games or practices with the kids. Some of the people, not only care for their children but also for their aging parents. They mow the grass, clean the house, shovel snow and pay bills. They sometimes get frustrated with their families or their jobs. They experience times of great happiness, times of sorrow, and spend a lot of their time just simply tired. Most feel inadequate. I know them well, because in their very busy lives they have made the decision to be “givers” to this body of believers here in Florence. They are volunteers with our children. Yes, on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings, they get up early and drag their families out of bed and rush to the church (regardless of the fact that one of their toddlers hid the car keys in the cushions of the couch or they completely forgot to allow time to scrape the frost off of their car windows.)

As you sit in the worship service they are singing “Father Abraham” at the top of their voices while kids follow them around in a circle. They might be speaking softly to a toddler who is screaming in their face and who refuses to be consoled. They might be encouraging a parent to just go on ahead to service while they serve the child. When a baby is dedicated in our church, I know that more than 1,000 hours of ministry will be gifted to him or her by volunteers….the gift givers…the time investors…by the time he or she moves out of the children’s department and into the middle school department.

Could I encourage you to look deeply into the eyes of your child’s teacher and just understand that in their hectic lives they took the time to be here for you? Will you say “thank you”, today and next week…and the week after that? After all they are giving you a gift that will remain with your child through the rest of his or her life.

Kids Count!

Selena