One of the (many!) highlights from our conference was our keynote speaker Connie Jakab. There was a lot she shared but for today, and just before Easter, I wanted to share an insight of hers that really resonated with me.

I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. ~2 John 1:12

One of the many gifts children give is the freedom for us adults to be child-like again. There is nothing more freeing than running in a gym playing pool noodle tag (the fact that I couldn’t keep up is neither here nor there). There is something so beautiful when you are invited into conversations about the latest movie, toy or silly song (I would be fine if I never heard ‘It’s raining tacos’ again).

We introduced something new this past Fall. Each month our dear friend Leann (Handle With Care Ministries) has been recording short clips of encouragement and we’re posting them on our social medias. We’ve called them ‘MOR’, or, Moments of Reflection.

Our church displays a beautiful wooden nativity set each Christmas. It stands atop a small table at the front of the church and comes out on First Advent. Its large enough that you can see it when sitting in the pews but you only catch the details when you make your way to the front and see it up close.

When my son was much younger, he was on a kick to share a lot of random facts. These tidbits of information were often given at random times as well so it always took me a moment to understand what was being said.

You may have heard this before but you are quite amazing. In fact, you are uniquely you with gifts and talents that God has blessed you with.

It has happened too often when I’ve arrived at my destination and I don’t actually remember driving there. It has also happened too often when I’ve gone into a room for a purpose but that purpose has decided to escape me and I stand perplexed in the middle of the room.

It’s so busy. We know. But, it is good for us to stop and give thanks. It is good to pause and reflect on the goodness we have bared witness to throughout the year.

Have you noticed the changes outside? I’ll be honest. Right now, all I see is work. Getting rid of the grimy residue, cleaning up the yard (thank you Stella, our adorable dog…), sweeping away the gravel… it is a hot mess outside. And yet. The rain that falls today is washing away the dust and melting the stubborn snow. The birds have come back home and there are bits of green peeking out here and there. Change is coming.

‘Resolutions’ is one of the more annoying words found in the dictionary. A simple break down shows us that it becomes ‘re’ and ‘solutions’. As in, the original solution to your problem didn’t work out. Thus, you’re in need of a restart, a need to reinvent or a resolve to get back to the drawing board once again.

One of the many blessings of working in Children’s Ministry is to witness the unabashed freedom children have to ‘say it like it is’.

Of the papers I’m privileged to, I am amazed at how deep these littles think. They pray for their families, friends, the environment, wars, sick loved ones and other stressors in their lives.