Let the little children come to me…

Any adult who has volunteered for a Vacation Bible School program knows that it is anything but a vacation!  There is lots of praying, planning, organizing, preparing, and coordinating of schedules and volunteers to pull it all off.  But somehow, it always comes together in the end!

I may have a little rhythm, but a good dancer- I am definitely not!  Nevertheless, I pulled up my cowboy boots every day and taught the rip-roarin’, rootin’ tootin’, rodeo songs and dances each night (along with my trusty sidekick!) for our VBS this past week- all for the love of Jesus.  I really must love Him to embarrass myself in this manner.  Even my girls snickered as they watched me galloping on the stage.  Even so, as I look out from the stage and see the wide-eyed children excitedly worshiping, singing, and dancing, my pride melts away.  It is worth it all!

One evening at our closing session, the sound system was not working.  Much to my delight, the children easily remembered the words and tune to the evening’s song and belted out the song  a cappella with much joy-

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”- John 3:16.

I am quickly reminded how easy it is for children to learn God’s Word.  It is humbling see how God uses music to impress His Word on the hearts of these children!  We sang songs about God’s love, His truth, trusting Him, how He rescues us from sin-and all of the VBS workers and volunteers are working together to help plant seeds. Planting seeds of God’s Word that will hopefully take deep roots in the hearts of these children and will someday grow and bloom!  Is there anything better than that?!

And the best gift of all was having one of my daughters come up to me after the last night of VBS.  We were still at church, straightening things and tidying up and I noticed that she and another little girl were talking quietly together by the front doors.  I could see that they were folding hands. Then my daughter came over to me and said that now her friend had Jesus in her heart.  She said that she told her one of the Bible Stories they had learned this past week and she asked her young friend if she had Jesus in her heart.  Her friend, who is 3,  said no, so my daughter prayed with her.  My daughter  said “Mommy, everything’s good, because she has Jesus in her heart now!”  It was so simply put, and so beautiful.  In my daughter’s  heart, all was right with the world because she knew that her friend had accepted Christ as her Savior!

This illustrated to me how important it is for children to be exposed to the awesomeness of VBS every year!  The more they become exposed to God’s Word and hear about Him through Sunday School, Church services, and VBS, the more opportunities we have to plant seeds in their hearts.   We can never underestimate how God will use these experiences in our children’s  lives!

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”- Matthew 19:14

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