When I was 5 years old we moved to our town. Soon after we arrived, Rev. Vincent Rupp, the pastor of the Swanton Missionary Church came to visit us and invite us to church. My parents were not church goers at the time. But Rev. Rupp offered to come and pick me up whenever I wanted to go to Sunday School and church. I went the first Sunday and was hooked! I LOVED it. So every week from the time I was 5 until I was 13, when he finally retired, that sweet man - who cared about the soul of a little girl - showed up faithfully to pick me up on Sunday mornings.
At the Missionary Church, we had a lady named Grace Hill. Grace had never been married and never had children of her own. But she loved the kids of the church passionately. She taught our SS classes, led our Jr Church and took us on field trips to see some amazing things. Her doors at her home were always open to the kids of the church. She ALWAYS had time for us.
Because of the teaching I received from these two fine people and others like them, I came to know the Lord at an early age. At one point, after reading a book where the author suggested that if someone had had a big impact on your life, you should write them a letter and let them know that, I chose to do that for Grace. I wrote her a note and let her know that it was because of seeing Christ in her that I am a Christian today. A couple of years after I sent the letter, I saw Grace at a function. She was in her 80's by then, but she RACED across the room as soon as she saw me. She hugged me and cried and said to me that she had always wondered if her life had ever meant anything. And that my letter had let her know that God really had been able to use her. And that the letter meant soooo much to her that she kept it in her top dresser drawer and took it out to re-read often. When she died, they found that letter in her drawer, tattered and well-worn.
Sorry about the length of this. I just wanted to share about a couple of very special people. And to let those of you who are working with the kids know this - you never know whose life will be permanently affected by the Christ they see in YOU.
__________________
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of a battle ! ! ! !
Linear Mode
