On Social Awkwardness With Five Year Olds
"So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us." 1 Thessalonians 2:8
This week, I'm volunteering with Vacation Bible School. With five year olds. Those of you who know me well are laughing right now. To say that it's not the age group I prefer is a pretty big understatement. Yet I've been unexpectedly blessed, not just by the children (who have turned out to be pretty awesome), but also by the leaders. One in particular is Carey, the pastor in charge of the week. His joking around and playing games with the kids seems so natural, and he always has a smile on his face. Somehow I can't picture him rushing home afterwards and throwing himself on his bed like I do.
Yet, honestly, that's not a huge surprise to me. I knew, signing up, it would be work. I'm socially awkward around five year olds. I don't really know what to say ("So...how's your day?") or how to relate to them, even though I have one. The best I can do is be schooled at playground games (I suck at throwing a frisbee) and try to smile and laugh instead of standing awkwardly against the wall.
But here's the point. Today, after sleeping off the exhaustion of the morning, I called Loren and asked about having a few of the YFC boys over tonight. It's been a stressful week and I thought it would be fun to hang out. It was only after confirming plans that I realized, essentially, what I would be doing tonight was more "ministry." I look around my house and see countless signs of high school kids. The camera they used to make a school project, and the fun it was to witness taking pictures of oil and vinegar and hairspray on fire in our driveway. The homemade bass that one of the boys gave Loren. The variety of sodas that are continuously stocked, waiting for spontaneous game nights. The stack of board games on the hutch that represent hours of missed sleep, mockery, and countless YouTube songs to entertain us between turns.
God reminded me today of those verses from 1 Thessalonians. That these youth have become very, very dear to us, to the point of being ready to share with them our own selves. Other versions translate the verse "our very lives." In the years of doing youth ministry, much of it has ceased to become ministry, and rather, our very lives. These kids break our hearts with their bad decisions, never fail to ruin a long awaited date night, and more often than not are the subjects of the prayers that bring me to tears. But they also have given me countless laughs (many at my own expense), immeasurable joy at celebrating the victories of driver's licenses, passed classes, and decisions to follow Jesus, and love and affection more than I thought possible.
So tonight I'll stay up too late playing Ticket to Ride with teenagers, eating quesadillas and being endlessly mocked. And tomorrow I'll get up early and gird myself up for three more hours of five year olds, knowing that while I may not be able to understand the inner workings of young children, I still have the amazing privilege of being a part of the sharing of the gospel of God and our own selves. And that, no matter where you are called, is the unbelievable blessing of ministry.
This week, I'm volunteering with Vacation Bible School. With five year olds. Those of you who know me well are laughing right now. To say that it's not the age group I prefer is a pretty big understatement. Yet I've been unexpectedly blessed, not just by the children (who have turned out to be pretty awesome), but also by the leaders. One in particular is Carey, the pastor in charge of the week. His joking around and playing games with the kids seems so natural, and he always has a smile on his face. Somehow I can't picture him rushing home afterwards and throwing himself on his bed like I do.
Yet, honestly, that's not a huge surprise to me. I knew, signing up, it would be work. I'm socially awkward around five year olds. I don't really know what to say ("So...how's your day?") or how to relate to them, even though I have one. The best I can do is be schooled at playground games (I suck at throwing a frisbee) and try to smile and laugh instead of standing awkwardly against the wall.
But here's the point. Today, after sleeping off the exhaustion of the morning, I called Loren and asked about having a few of the YFC boys over tonight. It's been a stressful week and I thought it would be fun to hang out. It was only after confirming plans that I realized, essentially, what I would be doing tonight was more "ministry." I look around my house and see countless signs of high school kids. The camera they used to make a school project, and the fun it was to witness taking pictures of oil and vinegar and hairspray on fire in our driveway. The homemade bass that one of the boys gave Loren. The variety of sodas that are continuously stocked, waiting for spontaneous game nights. The stack of board games on the hutch that represent hours of missed sleep, mockery, and countless YouTube songs to entertain us between turns.
God reminded me today of those verses from 1 Thessalonians. That these youth have become very, very dear to us, to the point of being ready to share with them our own selves. Other versions translate the verse "our very lives." In the years of doing youth ministry, much of it has ceased to become ministry, and rather, our very lives. These kids break our hearts with their bad decisions, never fail to ruin a long awaited date night, and more often than not are the subjects of the prayers that bring me to tears. But they also have given me countless laughs (many at my own expense), immeasurable joy at celebrating the victories of driver's licenses, passed classes, and decisions to follow Jesus, and love and affection more than I thought possible.
So tonight I'll stay up too late playing Ticket to Ride with teenagers, eating quesadillas and being endlessly mocked. And tomorrow I'll get up early and gird myself up for three more hours of five year olds, knowing that while I may not be able to understand the inner workings of young children, I still have the amazing privilege of being a part of the sharing of the gospel of God and our own selves. And that, no matter where you are called, is the unbelievable blessing of ministry.
posted by The Bakers at 4:49 PM
1 comments
