Small Actions, Big Impact

I have a handful of truly important memories from early childhood that revolve around church. It's in the couple who we could sit with at church that were just as strict on us as our own parents about behavior but loved on us. It's in the pastor's grown daughters. One who was incredibly joyful and wore the brightest red dress shoes; who embodied being who God made you to be no matter what. The other who gathered a group of elementary aged girls and taught us how to serve others first hand. Ultimately her story of finding a personal relationship with Christ is wrapped up in mine. There was an older couple who paired with their daughter to lead a VBS group of lower elementary kids. While they were always very proper, they knew how to show love and kindness to a group of rowdy kids. It's "Miss Ann" who taught preschool and elementary choir, and taught us what respect looked like by giving it to us even though we didn't earn or deserve it. The pastor who always had time for a knee tackling hug from me.

While I have a lot more memories from 10+, these are the majority of things that have stuck in my brain from before that time. The thing that keeps resonating with me through them is that these people were not all ones I knew well. Some better than others. Some taught sunday school, missions programs, even discipleship training classes. Some only helped in very specific roles. Each one had a profound impact on my life, both then and now. Really they only have a few things in common outside of being a part of the same church body. They were willing. I was young enough that I have absolutely no true concept of ability, availability, eagerness, or anything else. All I know is they were there. I know a few were easily in their 60s+, hanging out with small people who don't settle down well was not easy, but they did it. All of these memories are also marked with great kindness and love.

It has recently been brought to my attention that I am incredibly fortunate to have had such amazing examples of God's kindness, grace and love growing up. I sometimes take for granted that not everyone was surrounded by people who taught these things by doing them. Not only did they show them to us, they brought us along side as they showed them to others, teaching us how to love and serve others with kindness. I can't think of a single instance I was explicitly told what was going on, but in the last few years of reflecting on why I see things in scripture the way I do, why I feel people should be treated certain ways, why certain things are important to me I can see the roots that started at an early age.

I say all of this to get to this point. It doesn't matter how capable, prepared, worthy, useful, or even right for the job you feel. When you take time to show children love, kindness and a measure of grace you will leave an impression. While you may never know, it may be a seed of something greater in their life. It doesn't have to be in a big way or even in anything "official" but it will matter. The truth is, it's not just kids we need to remember this with. Everyone in our lives needs an extra measure of love, kindness, and grace now and then. I know this, because I do... a lot. Keep in mind, as I say these things I am reminding myself the exact same thing. God has shown me these specific examples in my life and paired them with ways I have or could impact others around me now. While I often fail, my goal is simply to try.