"Let the little children come unto me, and do not forbid them. For such is the kingdom of heaven." These are the very words spoken by Jesus to His disciples long ago!! This verse has had a profound impact on my life recently!
It all started when Jeremy found a penny. His immediate response was, "Mommy, look, this will help bring baby sister home!!"
Of course, my adult mind told myself, "Yeah, right... a penny is like '1/1 millioth' of what it will take to bring her home!" But of course as a mother I praised him for thinking of his sister and doing whatever he could to help out!
Later it was some friend's kids that started brainstorming about creative ways they could help "Join the Journey." One (Peyton) had been making friendship bracelets he wanted to sell, and the other (Cooper) decided he was going to sell some jokes... "People will pay me money, and I will tell them a joke" :-)!
At the "Join the Journey" night, I happened to see some girls writing stuff down on a paper. I asked them what they were doing, and they excitedly said, "we're coming up with some ways we can help!" Abby (going into 6th grade) had a whole list of things she was going to do/make in order to raise awareness and raise money!!
It was then through my dear friend's daughter Annika (5 1/2 years old) that I finally got it!!! When she heard we were in the process of bringing an orphan home from China, she immediately told her mom that she wanted to give all her piggy bank money for "Jeremy's sister" to come home.
When we handed out our "Join the Journey Chinese Food Boxes" to collect change, she went home and dumped her piggy bank money into it. It filled the entire box! I took it to the coin collector at our bank and it totalled over $45!!!
It was not the fact that a 5 1/2 year old was able to give $45 that struck me (although how cool is that!!!)... it was the fact that she gave it with no reservation! She realized that there was a need, and she could be a part of filling that need!!
I am utterly amazed at the fact that so many kids have decided to "Join the Journey" with no reservation! They want to do whatever they can!! Kids get "God's heart!!" They see people in need, and they want to help! They want to love, and they want to do something!!!
May I never stand in the way of these children!! Let them come!!
