Jesus is alive!

The ministries that God has placed me in don't always get a lot of return, and sometimes I feel like the message of Jesus is just not getting across. But God blessed me this weekend with a few really meaningful encounters.

I teach the three-year-old class at church, and it is a lot of fun. But it is also chaos, and when we sit down for story time usually only about two-thirds of the kids gather, and out of those most of them are standing, talking, or trying to hold my props. I have to admit, I don't spend as much time prayerfully preparing as I should, but I always try to be spiritually ready to represent Jesus. This Sunday, it was my third week in a row teaching and I was exhausted. We only had eight kids, which was a blessing in and of itself, and we did lots of singing and dancing before sitting down to reiterate the Easter story. I was blown away by the fact that, for the first time, every single kid sat down and quietly listened as I opened Easter eggs with various props and told them about the death and resurrection of Jesus, and what it means for us because He loves and forgives us. We then proceeded to make little megaphones out of paper cups, to proclaim "Jesus is alive!" Usually the kids don't get into that kind of stuff, but today they were running around with their megaphones repeating that truth over and over. I think they really got it, and I got it too--because Jesus reminded me that He is working in their hearts, and they are really hearing how much Jesus loves them and wants them. (Also I want to remember forever that one of the kids, during storytime, said that the monsters who killed Jesus should go to time-out. Well said.)

Then today, I had a special moment with one of my most difficult patients. She has severe dementia and is very hard to work with because her sense of reality is very twisted. But today she was much calmer than usual, and when I finished she asked me to come to the facility sing-along activity with her. I had time, so we went together, shared the lyrics, and sang along with ~15 other residents. She was more coherent and lucid than I've ever seen her, and when I had to go she gave me a kiss and a big, genuine smile, and I got a glimpse of the real lady inside sans dementia. It was pretty powerful.

It sure is cool to see how God works in me, through me, and despite me. It is amazing to see Him writing the story of my life one day at a time, and no one can predict it--especially me.