To Comfort A Child

This last week I've said goodbye to 2 of my churches here in (or near) Cardiff. I've had some good times in both churches and I've met some amazing people.

This last Sunday, I was helping in the Sunday School, and we were having a goodbye party with cupcakes and ice cream and sprinkles (I'm sure the parents loved us when we sent the kids home), as well as some fun dance music and balloons.

The kids had made cards for me, which were super sweet! One of the cards read "You was a good person and we will miss you." Haha. I love kids.

At one point, while we were playing musical chairs, one of the little ones had missed the music ending and thus was out of the game. She immediately curled down with her knees on the floor and her hands over her face and she didn't move. I had been out for a couple of rounds already and was batting a balloon in the air with one of the little boys, so I went to  the little girl to pick her up and move her out of the way. As I lifted her up, her body didn't shift, so she stayed in her "ball" position. I just held her for a bit, sensing that she might just need some cuddles for the moment.

I ended up holding her for the rest of the class and she didn't uncover her face for a good 15 minutes. I would sing to her what ever songs happened to be playing, or I'd bounce her around like we were dancing. Eventually, we sat down at a table to eat the cupcakes, pizza, and ice cream. She still hadn't uncovered her face, so some of the other kids were asking her what was wrong. I think she was a little embarrassed by now, so I just told the other kids that she was just in a bluesy mood at the moment. I started asking her what she was sad about. I asked her if she was sad because she was out of the game and she nodded. I asked if she was sad that I was leaving? She nodded again. I asked if she wanted cake? And she didn't. She just stayed in my arms. It was so sweet!

I'm not a mom yet, but I love it when children let me cuddle them as their mom would. I feel like I'm doing what I was made to do, when I can just hold a little one in my arms. I feel called to be a mother to the motherless; to give the love that some children might not have received from their mother. But more than that, to share the love of Jesus with these kids. I fully believe that God has given me a piece of His heart for these little ones. When He hurts for them, I hurt for them. I know that what I've been called to do will not be easy, but I know that if I keep God as my Rock and my source, He will be the strength that I need to keep going and to keep loving unconditionally, as He has first loved me.

I couldn't have asked for a better way to say goodbye to these kiddos than to be able to do what I love doing: comfort a child. And a while after this little one had gotten up and was playing with the other kids, she shouted for my attention and proudly announced "Hey look! I'm happy now!"