Afterglow

Another Sunday school season has gone by. It’s time to breathe a sigh of relief and whisper a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s continued faithfulness in our midst! As you stroll through empty classrooms, notice the stained carpet and crusty Play-Doh remnants. Smile at the drawers full of dry markers, knotted balls of yarn, and left-behind projects. These are signs of life and evidence of ministry — reasons to rejoice!

Then pour yourself a tall glass of cold lemonade to sip as you savor Sunday school memories:

• all the kids you prayed and laughed with who were strangers to you only a few months ago.
• the “aha” moments when eyes lit up and something hit home like never before.
• the ways that God ministered to your heart through the kids in your group and the lessons you led.
• times you shared a child’s pain or joy.
• moments when the Spirit led in ways you didn’t expect.
• the surprising ways kids grew and changed week by week.
• times when you learned to depend on God.
• good questions kids asked that made you wonder about things you’d never thought of before. 

One memory that stands out for me was the story a fifth grader told of asking God to wake her up before the sunrise, so she could see it. The next day he did, and she saw all the colors and beauty. She shared this with such joy and amazement — this one experience had strengthened her faith tremendously. It was so personal to her. It was as though God agreed that seeing a sunrise would be a wonderful way to start the day. So he woke her up, and they shared the moment together.

And isn’t that just like God? He holds the entire world together and also reaches into our little lives in such personal ways. That’s the lesson I’m holding onto this summer. And I hope it will be a season full of refreshment, with sunrise moments that bring new wonder and awe!