This year I have been working at Awana. And I must say I enjoy the heck out of it. I am one of the several awesome Sparks leaders. There are Cubbies who are preschoolers. T&T who are third through sixth grade. Then there are the Sparkies who are the Kindergarden- 2nd graders. I thought signing up to work at Awana was something I 'should' do just because I have worked so much with kids. I thought I would also enjoy it but I didn't realize how much!
It happens very often that I don't want to get out and go to awana, if I've had a sad day or I'm just not feeling that good. (I have arthritis so evening time and depending on the time of year is a sore time.) But I go anyway. I go because my 'book time kids' for that month are depending on me. I go because my fellow leaders are depending on me. I go because the 'Green Team' needs their leader who keeps them organized and understanding. I go mostly though because it makes me very,very happy.
These things bring me much happiness at Awana:
Children who smile at me when I come in the doors.
Fellow leaders who somehow can tell when I'm feeling down and say just the right things to cheer me up.
Jr.High boy helpers who just have fun in their own crazy jr.high ways but also somehow keep the kids total respect.
Watching Sparks overtime learning the books of the Bible songs.
Children who are so proud of themselves when they learn another verse.
Kids learning about God's love.
Kids who have great questions about God; who are really wanting to know all they can about Him.
Special Nights of fun.
Supporting the green team in a nice way. And that competitive atmosphere of fun.
Being reminded,personally, of all those stories in the Bible's that you dont learn the same when you're an adult than you do as a young kid.
Finally after many attempts PERSONALLY learning the books of the Bible order from those songs that are for the kids.
These things are just the start of the list that could really go on and on. I just love it. Sometimes my favorite is when Im not having a great day and it's wednesday and I forgot it. Then it's 4:00 and I remember about Awana and it just makes me happy. My days of being an Awana worker are not even close to being over. I'll do it for as long as I can. It's a big commitment: every single wednesday night during the School year. But for me that's completely worth it.
"We are SPARKS for Jesus, Sparks to light the world. We will SHINE for Jesus as we tell each boy and girl! We will hide God's word in our hearts. We will serve him right from the start. From his love we never can part because we are Sparks! Sparks! Sparks! Sparks! Sparks! to light the world!" Mmmm... I just soak it in.
