Mom of Many

There are times in which I feel as though I'm constantly being asked if I am married or have children. To clarify the issue on both, no - I am not married and no - I do not have kids. However, I am a mom to many and I love it. I couldn't wait for the day where I would be a sports mom as I like to call it. I want to be the mom in the stands wearing the button of their child on the team. As a Children's Pastor, I have had the opportunity this year to go and cheer kids on in their football team, watch their dance recitals, etc. I am that sports mom, just not of my own children. Techically, I am a mom and I do have children - almost 100 of them. I have lunch once a week with a girl who is not a part of our kid's church but someone in the community who just needs a friend and a "mom" in her life. I absolutely love what I get to do. I pastor kids and am honored to be their church mom. I couldn't ask for anything more!

Tia Heather

There are days when all I hear is a constant, "Miss Heather, Miss Heather." Today and in fact, this entire week, has been no different. From across the picnic tables or from the playground, I would hear a loud, "Miss Heather." I turn to look and there is a child or group of children wanting me to watch what they are doing, whether it be chasing someone, throwing a cup of water on another child, or anything else. Some didn't know my name, so they simply called me Tia, which means Aunt. I'm always being asked if I have children and though I don't have any of my own, I am extremely honored to be Tia Heather to children in this community and our church. I would not have it any other way! I have to stop and wonder how often we overlook our chances to be an "aunt" or "uncle" to a child. I love these kids with all my heart and if it means being outside on a 100 degree day throwing water balloons or yet, being chased by someone with a water balloon, I will do it over and over again.

More Than Just a Banana

I have been teaching on the Fruits of the Spirit (LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) in our Elementary Kids Class. As I prepare for each lesson and just spend some time thinking and praying about having the Fruits of the Spirit, I keep coming back to one concept. It seems as if there is a theme in my thought pattern this year (and really over the past few years). It is in regard to LOVE. Not a lovey-dovey feeling for someone, but true love for others as Christ loves us.

The first Fruit is LOVE. The most common passage used when teaching on LOVE is 1 Corinthians 13. The very first sentence (verse 4) says LOVE is patient, LOVE is kind, which both are yet another FRUIT of the Spirit. It is hard to teach on being patient with God, with family, with friends and yet skip over LOVE. It is hard to be kind to others when we don't LOVE them. Everything points back to love. I like how The Message reads, "LOVE from the center of who you are, don't fake it."

We LOVE our kids as we be patient with them while learning to potty train, while learning different life skills/lessons. We LOVE others as we are patient with them in their journey we like to call life - so they may not be where we want them to be, but let's LOVE them through the process and allow God to be in charge.

I have learned that sometimes LOVE hurts. LOVE isn't always easy. However, when we read further into 1 Corinthians, it says LOVE never fails, LOVE perseveres. When we want to give up LOVING, when it gets too hard, remember that LOVE, true LOVE, doesn't quit.

As found in The Message:

1 Corinthians 4:4-9 "Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always 'me first,' Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end."

Super Star

I walk into a classroom twice a week and it never fails, the door opens and as I walk through, I hear "Miss Heather! Miss Heather! Miss Heather!" Each group of tables try their best to get my attention to sit with them that day. I and the teacher smile and I attempt to say HI without disturbing the lesson.

I am reminded of a super star. They can walk into a crowd and no one knows them personally, but because of what they see, they go crazy for having a star in their presence. Do you live your life in such a way that people are excited to see you, to spend time with you?

Week after week, I listen to kids tell me stories about their life or their most recent school project and I am truly interested in their lives. For some, their grades have improved greatly. It isn't about me - it's about someone who takes time out of their day to give some attention to a child and most days, all the children in the classroom.

Take the time to listen, to truly care, to invest and became a super star to our own kids, the children in our neighborhood, on our boy's football team or girl's dance squad. Love them, show them you are proud of them, be Christ to them. It doesn't take much, simply a willingness to love others. Be light to a dark world!

Simple Acts of Love

Today is Valentine's Day so what else to share on, but love. I attended my first Valentine's school party today in a long time. It's been since when I was in elementary school.

And, what comes with a party? Candy!! Especially for kids who are in school, right? I'm sure the teachers loved me. LOL

I took goodie bags filled with candy for each child in the classroom. I wanted them to know that I love them. They are great kids and this was a little way that I could share with them.

Little did I know it would have such an impact! I know, I know - anytime you bring candy, you are the hit of the party, but I didn't realize how many hugs I would get (and yes, this included the boys). What seemed a small act of love turned to be big in the lives of these kids. In return, my own valentines cards and even a box of Apple Jacks.

Our simple acts of kindness and love may seem just that to us -- simple. But, they aren't. Don't lose sight of acting in kindness and love - it may just turn that frown into a smile.

Special Assignment

I walked into the classroom yesterday to spend my hour volunteering and was told that I had a special assignment. This gave me a thought:

We have all been given special assignments by God to minister to the lives around us. With one glimpse into the world, we see lost and hurting people. My special assignment -- the kids in our community. There are those kids who are loved, but there are also kids who feel there is no future for them. There are kids who get 3 meals a day, and others - their only meal is the lunch they get served at school. There are kids whose talents are visible, and others whose talents are untapped due to fear of messing up or being a disappointment.

I look forward each Wed and Thurs when I get the opportunity to spend an hour each day working on fractions and decimels. I'm learning but I also get the incredible opportunity to encourage my little group that I sit with. They teach me fractions and I get to tell them that I'm proud of them.

I received a note today that said I was their best friend. Oh, how it touched my heart! I wrote earlier that it only takes one hour - and let me tell you - it's true. After only 4 hours, I have become someone's best friend. It doesn't take long to have a child look up to you - simply invest in their life!

Model Behavior

It never ceases to amaze me how our behavior affects those around us. Let me share an example - this past Christmas, I was out and about doing some Christmas shopping at the mall. It was busy, lines were long and I could see how impatience became a way of shoppers that day. As I went into a store that I had never visited, I watched a dad and his three children (one in his arms and the other two toddlers) enter the store and my amazement (not in a good way) began. As his children became louder and louder, the dad's voice began to raise to tell them to not touch this, not touch that, stop touching each other, stop crying. Where I normally can go about my shopping, this scene made me stop and ponder that his children were simply modeling his behavior. You see, the dad would yell at his wife who literally was in the next store. When his wife made her way back, he continued to yell at her. We tend to blame the kids for being unruly, when, in all reality, they are modeling the behavior that is put in front of them.

As parents, teachers, and role models for the kids in our lives (whether they be our own or not), let's model for them Godly behavior.