I can't stop smiling after watching this 5-minute video on the student ministries at Newsong!!! These are my people. I love them. I love our students. I love our staff. I believe so much in the next generation, because they are the NOW generation.They have changed me at the core of who I am. Join me in smiling...
Today at Newsong I ran into another adoptive momma-to-be and a very supportive mom, and immediately we started chattering "adoption updates". This other family just accepted a referral for 2 little Korean boys. I started going on and on about my year-long nesting craziness. We were laughing, they were giving me tips, and I was just soaking up being around these wonderful moms. Then, Maria spontaneously put her hands on both our bellies and squealed (if you know Maria, that's SO Maria) in delight, "You are both SO pregnant. It's like you're in the 3rd trimester. You're both so close to having your babies home!" I laughed back that I was in more like my 5th trimester, and wasn't taking offense that she said I looked like I was in my 3rd trimester. We all laughed! I was having so much fun in our conversation with Maria's hand rubbing all over my belly, that her act/words didn't even sink in fully. Driving home minutes later, I started tearing up.
[That's Maria in the black t-shirt, hugging me in the white hoodie]
God k
nows. God remembers. He knows that I LOVE touch, and I would've loved to have had my belly touched for 9 months of pregnancy. Maria doesn't even know that, but the Spirit prompted her in the moment to rub my belly. She was also sensitive to our other friend's referral news, knowing that it might strike me hard. It didn't, but as a mom she knows the aching of a momma for her baby.
Today could have been painful for a number of reasons, but God brought Maria and Jessica along for a great dose of laughter and belly touching.
I am grateful!
Last Sunday we had our Student Ministries staff celebration. We have an amazing team of volunteers who serve in a variety of creative, inspirational, and courageous ways to our 12-18 year olds at Newsong. I adore watching them "love in action" and minister to our students and their families. One of the night's surprises was an 18-minute video that one of our high school girls who's also a small group leader in our middle school ministry made. Christie was actually one of girls in my first leadership group when she was in 7th-8th grade. Now, she skillfully shepherds a group of 8th grade girls with integrity [Psalm 78:72]. It's such a satisfying and rewarding picture of what 2 Timothy 2:2 envisions for us. The video Christie prepared was of countless students who were saying "thank you" to their leaders in ways that only 12-18 year olds can: Beautiful. Raw. Meaningful. Unedited. Unfiltered. Authentic.
When Mychel was saying "thank you" to me, something hit me in a new way: one of the gifts of infertility is that it's validated my ministry and personal relationship with God. Mychel was saying that she loves me because she's seen me go through really hard stuff in life and still love God. So that's validated the advice and counsel I've given to her over the years. My pain has produced validation to my words.
If I had a fairy-tale-only life, I'm not sure that my experience with Jesus would carry the same weight to the people I serve as they do now. The rubber of my faith has hit the road. The proverbial crap has hit the fan in my life, and I still believe Jesus is the best and truest thing going on. The God of Scripture has become more real in the pages of my life. For that, I am grateful for infertility.
GENERAL DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are April's alone and do not represent the views of any ministries or organizations in which she is affiliated. (I'm told this is important to say.)
Coaching and training leader to their fullest potential. Author of a youth worker book. Available for speaking to teenagers, youth workers, women, and churches.
