Have you ever witnessed kids in the middle of a growth spurt? It seems they eat and eat and eat and just can’t get enough! And then almost overnight they are 6” taller.
“That was the first time I ever prayed out loud, Miss Annie.”
“But I thought you said you girls prayed for the football team to win earlier today?”
“Yeah, and that was the first time I prayed with my friends. We just prayed to ourselves though. But tonight was the first time I prayed out loud!”
Teresa was beaming here at overnight camp. She had worked hard to get to this camp by helping with a fundraising pancake breakfast. Teresa and a couple other neighborhood girls from our homework club were in my group, along with a couple of church regulars. They were loving everything about camp: the food, the playground with swings, the worship time, the speakers, the “Minute-to-Win-It” competitions, the game time, bonfire and the other kids and leaders. They were soaking it all in!
In the morning Teresa asked, “Last night, would you have gotten mad at me if I turned my flashlight on under my covers after ‘lights out’?”
Last year when we went to this camp, it was Teresa’s first time spending the night ANYWHERE! So I thought she was asking because she had been a little scared at night, “Probably not if it was just for a few minutes and you weren’t talking to anyone.”
“Ok. I wanted to read my Bible under my covers, but I thought you might get mad.”
“Well you can do that for a few minutes tonight if you want!” Delighted, I almost sang the words.
Joslinn, new to the neighborhood, met me one day as she got off the bus. I was walking my dogs past her home. After I found out she was Teresa’s friend, we got her to join us for the pancake breakfast to raise money for camp. She hadn’t even been to our homework club yet but she loved working at the breakfast. Since she had a school friend going to camp, she wanted to go and her mother felt safe sending her. “Miss Annie, this is the first time I’ve been to camp or church or anything… I’ve never heard of anyone coming back to life after they were dead. I don’t get it!”
What great dialogue we had! In this environment, feeling safe with her friend there, she was so open to hear and discuss and think. I didn’t push Joslinn. She wasn’t ready to commit her life to Jesus but wow, her understanding of Jesus and his people grew exponentially.
After just two days and two nights of concentrated time FEASTING on God and His goodness and love, fellowshipping in kid ways with His people, I could almost see these girls grow 6”… Spiritually!
Do you know a kid who could benefit from a growth spurt? For these girls, going to Christian camp with a friend was a great growth catalyst!
Until Every Girl and Boy Knows Him,
Annie
*Names of kids always changed.
**For a smile, check out the “Car Seat Dancer” link on the blog sidebar, under “Fun Videos”
