Someone was missing at lunch today

I went to the elementary school to have lunch with Jeremiah and Maiesha today for the first time this school year. This is their 6^th week of school and I just realized today how bittersweet it is to be back in that cafeteria. I am not sure if I have been putting it off subconsciously or if I just haven’t made the time to get over there. My kids love it when I come to school for lunch. This year their two lunch periods overlap so for a few minutes I get to set on the little stage with all 4 of them plus whichever friends that happen to tag along. Someone is missing however, our sweet little friend Andre.

Andre and his family lived in our neighborhood last year. Jeremiah played football with him at recess most every day. We decided to walk to his house last fall to invite him to the elementary lock-in we host at our church. From that day forward, Andre and his siblings began frequently visiting our house after school and on the weekends. By the end of 3^rd grade Andre had become a member of our family. He went to church with us, ate meals with us and spent countless hours playing at our house. As a mom, I began to see Andre as one of my own although I knew that he had a family who loved him. His personality was a lot like Jeremiah’s so it was easy to identify with him and care about him. We received the news in June that Andre and his family would be moving back to their home town in July. My heart was broken. The thought of never seeing him again was gut wrenching. He had his own knock every time he came to our front door and we would never hear that again. I would never hear his laugh and see his bright smile again.  

Here we are about 9 weeks since we said good bye to Andre and I catch myself looking for him when I am out running in our neighborhood. I look for him after school in the place where I meet the kids for snacks. My heart skips a beat each time the doorbell rings followed by a knock. All we have left of him are memories and pictures. I do hope we will see him again someday, and I continue to pray that God will cultivate the seeds that were planted in his tender heart. I pray that God will protect him and that he will never forget us because hardly a day goes by that I don’t think of him.

So… today as I sat in the lunch room with my children I was looking for Andre. God quickly reminded me through a lovely conversation with Ms. Mary that he has placed me and our family in this school to reach so many more than just Andre.  God has new opportunities for us to share the hope of Jesus with his precious little ones and their families. Ms. Mary wanted to thank me for getting Maiesha to school early each day to lead the chant for Rise and Shine assemble. She said she could tell that we teach Maiesha biblical things and our conversation unfolded into the purpose that God has for us. Then Jeremiah came and brought two friends with him that I didn’t know. I introduced myself to Isaac and Jacob. A couple minutes later we started talking about how the three of them could be the Old Testament crew. I shared the stories from the Old Testament to explain how Isaac was Jacob’s dad and how Isaac was the beginning of God’s promise to Isaac’s father, Abraham. They loved the stories. I told Jacob he had a twin brother, Esau, and then Jeremiah started talking about how Jacob tricked Isaac and stole Esau’s birthright. The boys started playing around and I had to help Chloe with her food so the stories stopped, but as I plugged back into their conversation I hear Jeremiah tell the boys about King Solomon and the 2 woman who fought over the baby.

Wow! Isn’t God amazing? I miss Andre so much, but look at the opportunities he has put in our path that I may have missed if I was still focused on him. Every relationship we are given is for a season. We have no way of knowing how long that season will be so we have to seize every moment for the sake of God’s kingdom and reaching “just one more”. It is so hard to say good bye and risk being broken hearted as one season draws to a close and the next looks uncertain, but God is big enough to guide us through and guard our hearts and minds. When we are walking the path he has for us, there is no safer place to be.

God has called me to minister to children – first to the 4 he gave me and then to each child he puts in my path. It is such a bonus to see and hear of my children being bold and unashamed as they share Jesus too. One of our family verses is 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIrV) “God didn’t give us a spirit that makes us weak and fearful. He gave us a spirit that gives us power and love. It helps us control ourselves.” We have been reading and praying this verse together for about 2 years and as I type this I realize how God has been answering those prayers.