train up a child

Teaching children and teenagers about God is an interesting little thing. I have done one or the other for as long as I can remember. I really enjoy teaching. But, sometimes I get that nagging little voice in the back of my head that questions if anything I say really sinks in. Very much like with my preschooler at home!

Oh, they are great at the whats/who's of the Bible stories, but I sincerely want Scripture to change their hearts. And, every now and then, one of my kids in my class at church will come out with the most profound spiritual truth. My heart swells. And God gives me the encouragement that I sometimes need. And, He reminds me that He can use me despite myself.

Last night, I had a conversation with a college student who used to be in the youth ministry that Mike and I worked with at our previous church. I first met him when he was just a scrawny 6th grader. A great kid, and now a great young man. He, like most of the youth we spent time with, were ones that we saw grow so close to God and yet, we were concerned would get swept away with the new found freedom of college life. I was so pleased to hear him say how he was involved with a campus ministry and how he was living out his faith at school. He blew me away with some of the things he said.

And, to put the icing on the cake, he wanted to know how to become a counselor at CWR this summer. I've written about my days at CWR and what they meant to me here.

I've seen so many of the children and teens that I've worked with grow up to become incredible men and women who serve and love God. Many who struggled so much in their youth. Besides making me feel really old (especially when they insist on calling me "ma'am"), it is such an encouragement.

You never know how much those little boogers are picking up. :)

Train up a child in the way he should go, and
when he is old he will not turn from it. - Proverbs 22:6