Love to Serve

Middle School students.

Sometimes they are loud.  Sometimes they smell.  Sometimes they are awkward.  Sometimes they are serious and the next moment, silly.  The boys like the girls but stand on one side of the room talking about them, never daring to talk to the girls.  The girls think the boys are cute, but would never think themselves good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, talented enough to actually talk to them.

Some people don't like Middle School students, but they are my teacher and I am grateful for them.

There are too many conversations to explain and describe, so here are a few quotes.  They may appear random but all occurred within twenty minutes.

"Rosa Parks sat down and changed the world."

"I'm hungry, what's for lunch?"

"Do you think we could all share one banana?"  (15 kids each got 2 pieces when they shared.)

"I don't know how God sees me..."

"Did the 12 tribes come because of the 12 disciples?"

"Wow, that was really deep."  (After a student prayed to open one of the Bible studies...  humble and yet proud that he had dared to be vulnerable when talking with God and leading students in that time.)

"What would happen if God didn't send Jesus?"

"Which is worse...  Cheap grace or tormenting grace (talking about the sing along "Saved by Grace.)?"

A weekend of holy moments.  A confirmation camp that was focused on the theme "Love to Serve."  Watching one youth group taking up that theme before their arrival and carrying everyone's luggage to their cabins upon arrival.  A youth worker being silly, yet serious....  And taking my own fork to stuff a few bites of food into my mouth.  A group of students cleaning up parts of camp for their service projects.  Cheerful smiles.  Willing spirits.  Teaching me again and again and again what it looks like to run after Jesus (to learn again and again that we have already been caught by him) and to  be His hands & feet.

Comments

  1. This is awesome. Having had a pretty quality Confirmation Learning Event tonight (and being jealous of your confirmation retreat at the same time!), thanks for the reminder of why I LOVE middle schoolers so much. It's an important reminder to be had often.

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