It's Friday Again

It seems like Friday is the only day I have to write.....

Awana began this week and I do believe things will slow down for me. The summer was full of training and planning and now we'll see if it all paid off. The kickoff night was good - a few glitches and problems we have to work through -- but one thing that happened that reminded me of what it is all about. My little friend Edward - the one with the gorgeous eyes that change colors every few minutes -- finished half of his Start Zone Wed night. Now to some of you, you might think "what's the big deal?" Well, the big deal is that he's had that Start Zone since September of 2005 and had done NOTHING. He came up to me after Awana Wed and told me how he'd done during Handbook Time. I hugged him and told him how proud I was of him and I thought he needed a special treat. He said, "No, ma'am. I had a snack already. I just wanted you to know how I'd done tonight." Is that not the beginning of a "relationship"?

Edward has been my thermometer. President Bush began a thing called "No Child Left Behind" when he first took office. My "thingy" is "no child gets ignored" -- so last year I started watching Edward. I'd send him a card every few weeks. He just would not work on his handbook. Never did. He didn't enjoy games. But he came to Awana. Not every week, but most weeks. This summer I'd send him a card and remind him to work on his Start Zone and when I saw his Dad I'd give him a candy bar and ask him to take to Edward. Just continually reminded him that someone was thinking about him.

Who knows what will come of it. But I do know for sure that Edward is getting God's Word into his heart and mind. He may not respond to it for years, but he'll remember me. Just like I remember my GA teacher from years ago. I don't remember her name, but I remember she helped me memorize verses that today mean more to me than bread and water!

Anyway, that's my special blessing for the week. Do any of you have "special people" you focus on? Anyone you can shower your love on (that's not your own child?) I was reading out loud in Luke this week while Matthew was at my house. I read the part in Chapter 5 or 6 where Jesus said "Love your enemies - do good to them that hate you - if they ask for your coat, give them your cloak also," etc. Matthew was listening to me reading and said "God doesn't want us to love enemies and people that hate us." I said, "Well, this is Jesus talking and he's the one telling us to do this." Matthew said, "WHAT? Jesus wants us to do that?" I said "yes, if we only love those who love us, what good is that? Everyone does that. It's loving those you don't know or those who don't love you that shows Jesus is in your heart." He was flabberglasted. He said, "I'll have to find someone who hates me!"

Don't you love it? Well, I've gotta go work. They pay me here to do things other than write blogs! Write and tell me the person you focus on and I'll pray for you if you'll pray for me and Edward!