Note From My Special Little Tea Guest Today

Each of my little third grade girls in my small group receives an invitation for her birthday to come to my home for a tea party with her mother. My first tea party of the year was today. Following is the precious note my delightful child, dressed in pink satin and black bejeweled slippers, wrote in my guest book:

We had a great time. All the great antique stuff was my favorite. I liked the glass animals. The food was asome. I look forward to seeing you again in church. We should have you over to the house for a lunch date. Cant wait to too see you next year.

ps. I really like being friends with you call me sometime my home number is [xxx-xxx-xxxx]. You should give me your E-mail you should know but no ofence your the oldest friend I've had.

Love,

[with lots of hearts: my little friend]

He is Enough

Dear Friend,

You asked, in working so closely with children has God helped me not feel the pain of not having my own Someone whom I love and who loves and respects me, of having my own children....

I have come to the acceptance that in life we do not get all we may desire that is natural and right. Instead, I focus on the amazing gifts God has given me, the astounding responsibilities He has entrusted to me, and rest in His loving sovereignty that He is not and will not withhold anything good. The more I abide in Him, the more I find exceedingly abundant joy in the moments and days He has given. I watched 40 come and go and grieved my probable losses; but, I learned that He and His love for me were not only Enough, but were my Spring of Joy. Out of this flowed contentment which found satisfaction and delight in that which He had already placed in my hand. I look at this adventure and the next with excitement, knowing the Lover of my Soul is and will provide all the good that I need.

Growing with you in Him,
Heidi

He Missed Me

I had been out of town one weekend in December and consequently had missed Sunday School. When I was back the following Sunday sitting in small group, my little Ethan came up from behind me, threw his arms around my neck, and buried his head in my chest murmuring something sweet. I gently lifted his head and asked, "What did you say?" He whispered close into my ear, "I missed you!"

Letter to the Preacher

Dear Preacher,

I want to share a story with you that I think will delight and encourage your heart as it did mine.

This past Sunday morning, I walked into the church service alongside two of my third-grade Sunday School girls. One of them invited me to sit with her. During your sermon she proceeded to pull out her sketch pad and vie for my attention with drawings of hearts, trees, and peanut-people. I purposed to set a good example for her by focusing on the sermon, but seemingly to no avail.

Now, fast forward to the Sunday School hour where we are sitting in small group discussing the lesson. I have recognized an opportunity to include the points from the acrostic in your sermon. However, as I begin, my mind goes into a quick freeze. I tell the girls I am experiencing Stage Fright and will need to refer to my notes.

As I turn and reach for my sermon notebook, a little voice at the end of the table says, "Admit!" Astonished, I glance up to see to which of my star pupils the voice belongs. It is my little sketch artist.

"That's right, Evelyn." I briefly apply the principle of "Admit" to our discussion scenario.

Then, I look at my notes for word number two. Again that little voice pipes up, "Pray!" And on it goes with perfect timing after each application: Trust! Act! Thank!

And so, I thank God for His action causing this little girl to hear His word spoken through you, and I pray that this seed will grow into understanding and belief, working an eternal joy into the heart of my little eight-year old drawer of hearts, trees and peanut-people.