Yesterday was Rally Day at church. I’ve mentioned it before. Think of it as a church picnic, complete with BBQ lunch (by one of the best BBQ guys in SW Florida), a water slide, games for the youth, fishing from the dock, oh, and the Kona Ice truck 🙂 . It’s a fun day for kids of all ages, even with the Florida rains that moved through a couple of times. Since there was no lightning, families were fine standing and sliding in the rain.
As I moved around the event, picking up the occasional empty Kona Ice cup, I watched the young families chat as their children ran and played. On the dock, the kids used the handmade cane poles and were even pulling in fish! I unhooked them, and off they went to grab the stinky bait to try again. The kids were so happy, and their parents looked so relaxed as they spent an afternoon together.
It was a nice change from the emotions we had all been feeling over the past weeks. Happy, laughing children; they are contagious.
As the afternoon came to an end, one of our choir members brought his two little ones, (like I’d say 3 and 4 years old), over to me. He was telling them to “Thank Miss Kim for everything”. Oh my goodness, those two waterlogged kids did just that. They came over and hugged me and said, “Thank you, Miss Kim, we love you”. Be still my heart 🙂 .
A little while later, I saw one of our clergy’s oldest daughters. She’s headed to college next weekend and was celebrating her last Rally Day, (at least as a youth). I gave her a hug and wished her the best as she travels to the Windy City. We laughed about the weather, and I told her I looked forward to seeing her at Christmas break.
Of course, Jesus was in our midst yesterday. You could feel His presence. He was showing us the true gifts of this life. We gathered together as a parish family, celebrating the children, the most precious gifts we have. I realized as I drove home how truly blessed I am. Thank you, Lord, for your many gifts.
Have a good day, friends. Please continue to lift my brother and his wife in prayer. And please continue to pray for the return of sweet Emily Rea.
Matthew 18:1-5
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.”
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