I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. – 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Tonight was United Baptist Church’s first night of VBS 2014. I was assigned to the second and third graders with another church member. Tonight after two hours with seven energetic, shy, excited, sassy, smart, sneaky second and third graders, I sat behind their sticky little heads in the church pew and I thought, Thank you, Jesus Christ our Lord, for judging me faithful to hang out with these precious little booger heads for the next three days.
Every day I am amazed with what God has entrusted me, especially when it comes to the kids I get to hang out with at Las Palmas, through YouthWorks, and through things like VBS. I have been so fortunate to know so many children and teenagers in the past seven years, to have been entrusted with their little lives, their education, their care, their stories, and their very selves.
More than anything, through my work with people younger than myself, I’ve learned that I’m not worthy of any of it and that I’d really mess it up without Jesus. But I received mercy and I continue to receive mercy every day so that Jesus Christ’s perfect patience can be exemplified in me.
