A few weeks ago the class I work with (gr.1) was on for chapel. I work at a Christian school and between the Gr. 1-4 classes, they take turns leading chapel.
Anyway, we were sharing about prayer and the different ways that people can talk to God. At the end, we shared a song talking about how we are not forgotten and that God knows each of our names - even the children of this world that may seem to be forgotten. The teacher I work with then asked me to share a little bit about our adoption and RUN 143 to have something personal and tangible for the kids. I was happy to have that opportunity.
So, fast forward to the following week. We broke into small groups to experience different ways of talking to God (through music, writing, speaking). Before that though, the gr.1 teacher had the kids (all 100+) of them gather around me in praying for our baby to come home!
Okay, so if any of you know me, you know that the tears flow pretty freely from these eyes of mine and all I could think was "Hold it together, Heidi. You can't fall apart in front of all these kids!" As the laid their little hands on me though and prayed their simple prayers, I was so overwhelmed with emotion!
Once they broke into the small groups, the had a chance to write down their prayers and I got to keep the ones that they wrote about us. What an incredible thing for me to hold on to. I believe children's prayers are powerful - they have unbelievable faith.
I wanted to share a few with you...
*Not sure if you can read this one. It says (word for word):
Dear God, Plese make miss closson have her baby so he is not frgotin. And he will have a good life. aman. I love you God.
Notice the little baby reaching his arms out of the basket :)
How can that picture not bring tears to my eyes?
What an honour it is to teach these kids. It makes going to work much, much easier. I am blessed!
That is so beautiful, out of the mouth of babes! I would cry too, very touching!
ReplyDeleteWow! Wish I could have been there, but I would have been a complete mess! Tears were welling up in my eyes as I was reading your post. What an incredible gift, so precious!
ReplyDeleteI can guarantee you that the majority of kids went home and told there families about praying for you and your baby. I'm sure that they will continue to pray for you daily. Think of all the prayer warriors that have just joined you crying out to God. Absolutely incredible!
Beautiful! My nieces and nephews made me cry many times during our wait too. You know the best prayers come from kids so you've got many angels up there now watching over your babe and getting her/him ready to meet you. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in Colombia, and totally 100% all alone, I worked at an Christian school for missionary kids for a couple months. One day in chapel it was the grade one kids' turn to lead worship... they sang along to a Mary Mary song called "Shackles" - do you know it? It's really quite a beautiful song concept, and watching those little kids singing and dancing about being freed to dance in praise - I completely lost it. Children have a way of speaking the innocent truths that are so easy to lose sight of hey? Their faith and belief are enough to move many a mountain I think! How beautiful that you could be surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses!
ReplyDeleteWhat a special day Heidi, I would have had trouble keeping it together too! I remember when we just got our referral for Eden and one of our assemblies at school the kids intentions were all for Eden....yep, couldn't keep it together, but that was just fine!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments! I love hearing about all of your personal experiences! What would we do without kids to teach us all of those important lessons, hey?
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! Children seem to say it best!
ReplyDeletePriceless and precious love from those students for you. That says a lot about how you affect them.
ReplyDeleteLike others have said the best comments come from kids. One of our nephews said just before we went to SA - "I am so glad they found L otherwise he might never know he is my cousin" Still makes me teary to know that there was unconditional acceptance.
Heidi, I haven't had a chance to check in and I saw this! Wow! I'm doing a workshop this weekend on celebrating the spiritual gifts in kids and if you don't mind, I'd love to use these as examples... Heidi, I truly believe your dreams will come to pass but will be more than you ever imagined... miss you guys!
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
Marilyn,
ReplyDeleteI definitely don't mind if you use this. Kids have so many gifts and such an encouraging faith! Thanks for reading...we miss seeing you too.