I wonder if I’m the only one out there who can tear up during the opening assembly at Vacation Bible School watching the kids sing the catchy little songs? No, I’m not PMS’ing, and, no, I’m not pregnant again. But as I held Emily in the the sanctuary and watched her watching those “big kids”, my heart was definitely touched, as deep or deeper than it has ever been, and I caught myself choking back tears!
When I was growing up, VBS meant taking all our little friends with us to have fun at church. Did it occur to us that we were actually learning something? Probably not at the time. I don’t know about the others, but I sure did. And I realize more everyday just how much I did learn! For example, each day when I change Emily’s clothes in the morning and at night, I always say, “UP and OVER!” as I pull her onesies over her head… then, the song begins… and it comes from out of nowhere or out of somewhere deep inside… “Running over, running over, my cup is full and running over, since the Lord saved me, I’m as happy as can be, my cup is full and running over….” and I see Jean Hess or Joanne Poe making the motions in front of the group and everyone following along.
See Psalm 23:4-6: ”You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”(NIV)
We were learning so much more than little songs and phrases, things that stick, like “meat” on our bones. It’s so important to me to root Emily in the same things. I want her to lean back on these things that are rooted so deep she can’t run from them. She’s 4 months old. She goes to church (most weeks). She’s going to VBS and not just to stay in the nursery! Tonight, I actually left her with the choir secretary, Ms Hazel, b/c Robbie wasn’t there yet and it was my night to volunteer in the nursery. I left her with someone she really didn’t know (but I knew well), just so she could hear the music and see the bigger kids.
But there’s something missing from VBS in Black Jack…. adults. When I was a kid, you had at least 1/2 as many adults as kids at VBS, even people who didn’t have kids…. now, not so much. I love that Emily is watching the bigger kids and will (hopefully) follow in their steps, but who are the bigger kids looking up to? Are their parents present or did they drop them off and leave? The 2-3 teachers per class? There’s a lot more than 2-3 kids in each one… (there are 120 kids enrolled at VBS this year). I know it’s the end of summer, but if you get a chance, go with your kids to VBS. I guarantee your heart will be touched. If VBS has already passed in your area, then go with your kids to church and read Bible stories to your kids. You won’t regret it!
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