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Outside in the basketball courts Tuesday, having grown bored with the fifteenth round of duck duck goose, several of the girls designated me their mother. They bickered over who got to sit in my lap, and fought for my attention with various demands and stories. One girl said to me saucily, “We’re giving you a taste of what it will be like to have kids!” I vividly recalled my mom trying to handle my two sisters and I when we were little. She often said the best gift we could give her for Christmas and her birthday was to love each other, and when her patience was worn down with breaking up our fights, she would say, “Just…just…love each other.” In response to their bickering, which grew less and less pretend, I said, “Oh my, kids in this family do not behave that way. They love each other! Now hug and make up.” They obediently complied, and the next time they started up again, I started to look disapprovingly their way, and they grinned and hugged each other.
I am continually impressed with the kids’ capacity to love. Wednesday when I entered the outside area, my “children” ran across the court to greet me and cling to me. The girl who had the cupcake catastrophe early on still runs to give me hugs. She told me yesterday she made a real cupcake for me at home. Another promised to bring me one of her homemade pizzas-that she makes even better than her mom. I often witness similar displays of compassion and affection amongst them. Thursday one little boy broke down because no one was passing him the ball. As his group was lining up, a huddle of girls formed around him, asking what had been wrong. He shyly told the story, and they put their arms around him and fed him skittles. Wednesday one of the little girls brought in some playdoh, and instead of selfishly hoarding it as I probably would have done at that age, she distributed some to everyone who asked. One girl promptly dropped her share on the ground, but instead of getting angry, the owner of the playdoh laughed it away and helped brush it off. Events like these seem to be reflections of God's goodness on Earth. I pray God guides the staff of the club to foster these positive tendencies. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. ~Romans 12:11-12 |
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