More Love

I longed for the days of chauffeuring kids to football practice, cheerleading practice, and confirmation classes to be over. I longed for peace and quiet in the house, but when it happened, it wasn’t as glamorous as I had dreamed. When I was alone and shopping, my head still turned when I heard a child call, “Mom.” The roaring sound of a VW Baja Bug in the night still woke me from a deep sleep because it made me think of my daughter, and I still winced when I heard the racing of a motor cycle because I thought it could be my son. I missed my kids, and I prayed for them. I prayed a lot. I filled the quiet evenings with knitting, reading and writing, and I took vacations to British Columbia and across the United States in our motor home with my husband. Yet nothing filled the void that came when my kids left home. When I called them, it hurt to know that they were too busy to talk to me. Why didn’t they miss me as much as I missed them? When my emotions got the best of me, I thought there was something wrong with me or my faith.
On a Sunday several years after my youngest left home, our pastor held a precious baby for dedication. “If you would like to hold him,” he said, “he’s usually in our nursery. And there are more babies that need loving arms.”
“I have loving arms,” I said to myself, “and I love holding babies.” I signed up, and I looked forward to the Sundays when it was my turn to work in the nursery.
After my grandchildren were born, I loved holding them and giving my children the welcome breaks they needed to go shopping or out to eat. But I still felt lonely and empty when they left. At church a need for Sunday school teachers was announced. “If you want to know more of God’s love,” the pastor said, “just show up for Sunday school. His love will come through these kids to you.” I considered what he said, and questioned if this was what I needed – more love. I could handle more love, I thought, and I showed up to teach Sunday school.
A whole new world opened for me. Like little cherubs arriving on the scene, the children blessed and continue to bless me with their love. Their simple faith inspires me to trust God more. It’s fun for me to think of ways I can make Sunday school more meaningful. Through Bible stories and games that apply Godly principles, we learn the basics of our faith and how we can please God.
The children give me something I can look forward to and things I can pray for. We experience more of God’s love through our interaction with each other, and together we are building a better tomorrow by focusing on our faith in God and using it to make a positive difference in our world and our future.