A few weeks ago, the parents of the Praise Kids were asked if we could come to the meeting to help.  We were to make those cards that were sold during the pumpkin patch, and all the adult help that could be garnered was helpful.  So, it was my first time going to Praise Kids, and I got an education from all the kids present as to what they do.  After we finished our craft, we played around for a little while with the toys.  And then we ended the meeting in the traditional way for

the Praise Kids, we gathered around in a circle, and we prayed together.  I don’t know how many prayers you’ve heard by 3, 4, 5 and 6 year olds and elementary school aged kids in your life, but all the pastors in the world are not as eloquent.  Generally what happens is that we go around in a circle and we say one thing we are thankful for.  When it got to Kayla she said, “Thanks for my family.”  This was obviously touching for me.  I figured that it was something worth talking about, and on the way home, I asked her about it.

“Do you always say the same thing?”

“I don’t know.”  She already has that teenage thing down where she dodges questions about her life.

“I think it’s nice that you are thankful for our family.  I’m thankful for our family too.”

“Yeah.  I’m thankful for Daddy, Mommy, GG (my mom)…”

“And Murphy too.”

“Right, Murphy, and for Granpa and Debbie, for Bobo (Melissa’s mom), Aunt Martha, Uncle Chris, Aunt Big Kathryn and Uncle Paul, my school friends, Alison (her best friend who lives in our neighborhood) and church.”

And church.  It hung there in the air for a while, and I realized, that’s what family is to her.  She knows that church is family just as much as Mommy and Daddy, her extended family, and her best friend.

This will be our third holiday season together.  I am looking forward to another season of thankfulness, the build up of Advent towards the celebration of Christmas, the joyful lessons and carols, the Christmas Eve services and this year an opportunity to worship and share with one another our gifts on Christmas Day.

I am so thankful that Kayla’s and Murphy’s holiday seasons are spent surrounded by folks who have loved them and prayed for them and cared for them. I look forward to watching them take in all of the sights and sounds of the holidays at NPC.

What are you looking forward to?

                                                            Peace be with You,

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus.
– I Corinthians 1:4 (NRSV)

 

 

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