A big, hearty YAHOO to all of you who confirmed that Summer does indeed smell lovely through a metal screen. It does me a world of good to know I am not alone. Shoot, it does my entire family good to know I am not alone.
Yesterday was volunteer appreciation Sunday for all the nursery and Sunday School and youth workers at our church. People, three things make me cry without pause:
- children’s choirs singing ANYTHING
- men and women marching in uniform
- Grandma Betty at church
I was able to barely put some long overdue thanks into words the other night. It is impossible to thank them enough… for the ministry they provide to our children AND to us in return, but it is a start.
To Louie, and all the pastors at BHBC…
that you may know of the incredible work your staff and your volunteers are doing.
We came to Blythfield shortly after our daughter Rylie was born and we’d moved to a farm outside of Belding. A year and a half later, we learned that Rylie would have some major difficulties with walking, potty training, and especially talking. She has apraxia… the same thing adults recover from after a stroke. She must learn to talk and control her muscles in ways typical folks don’t even give pause to. As she entered a new Sunday School, I was concerned she would be lost amongst the ‘typical’ kids. That, for all her special-ness and all her needs, that it would be too much to ask a volunteer to help her, to teach her.
I needn’t have worried. I received emails asking how you could be of MORE help. I received letters encouraging Rylie. I received hugs from her teachers saying she was doing so well. This past Christmas, we attended Ry’s first children’s Christmas program. I sat on an aisle, prepared to rescue my wandering child from the spotlight of being different. Imagine my surprise to find she was an angel. No, really: she was an angel, with wings and curls and songs. She sat with a ‘helper’ and waved to us incessantly, but it was clear she was comfortable and having a ball.
You see, for one hour every week, Rylie is simply another child. No one knows her IEP, no one checks on her therapy goals for that week, no one corrects the way she holds a pencil. She’s just Rylie… and she is so very well loved by the Kids’ Kingdom volunteers. They know her name. They know her heart.
Last year, we had Gideon who immediately began making up for the speech deficit we have in Rylie. He is loud. And for the first 5 months, he was a sad little man. His legs were casted and braced, he spit up constantly, and he rarely made it through a service without needing his mother. Loudly. I thought we were destined for reform school and church in the lobby for the rest of our days.
I needn’t have worried. Every week, Grandma Betty took my child and pushed me up the stairs until it was time for him to eat. Every week, she claimed him- sweet talked him- for that hour… or 20 minutes… and let me rest. In no small thanks to all the nursery volunteeers, that boy is now the happiest, sweetest, handsomest little man you’ve ever seen. He’s still loud. But, I think it’s because he’s looking for Betty. I do.
I’m trying to take a huge, beautiful story and cram it into a letter’s worth of space. I imagine, as a pastor, you feel the same way on a weekly basis trying to tell the Good News on a budget of time.
If I must be brief, let me say this:God is Love, and I have seen Him here.
I would imagine that’s your message, too.
Thank you, everyone, for loving our 2 very special kids and, in turn, their parents. I thank my God every time I remember you.with love and –much– appreciation, the Mulders
If YOU’RE a volunteer… thank you! Thank you, thank you.
Thursday we’re talkin’ about baby chicks. Y’all come back now, ya hear?
May 2nd, 2011 at 9:15 am
You have a gift with the words girlie.
May 2nd, 2011 at 8:31 pm
YOU have a gift of ridiculously cute children. Please bring them back here. Soon.
May 3rd, 2011 at 11:08 am
Working on summer plans soon. We will work in some time to visit. Your family has a special place in their memory bank.
May 2nd, 2011 at 9:50 am
If I wasn’t sitting at my desk at work this morning, I would be bawling (is that how you spell it?) but instead I have tears welling up in my eyes. As a mother of a special needs child, it is so good to see the family of God caring for everyone no matter their differences.
May 2nd, 2011 at 8:29 pm
You may spell bawling however you wish!
While I’m sorry to have made your face splotchy at work, I KNOW you understand the love I am talking about when it comes to finding durable friends. LOVING friends. Those are some good people.
May 2nd, 2011 at 9:53 am
As a mom, minister’s wife, and long-time nursery worker… can I just say, “Word!”
Seriously, that was beautiful. 🙂
May 2nd, 2011 at 11:31 am
My thoughts exactly. I love love love working with the kiddos in our primary. Singing songs about Jesus with them is absolute heaven on earth. Wouldn’t have it any other way, and it is so nice to be appreciated.
May 2nd, 2011 at 8:25 pm
I would hire you in a heartbeat. I would.
May 2nd, 2011 at 8:28 pm
WORD back at’cha 🙂 You’re about to use that infant room again! *SQUEAL*
May 2nd, 2011 at 9:55 am
what a sweet post! i wish i had that kind of experience at my church – don’t get me wrong, there are some lovely souls there but i still really struggle with my kids there.
May 2nd, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Oh, man. I have been in that church, too. And that diner, and that library, and that grocery store. I hear you. I think the thanks comes from finding a place I feel ‘safe’ in with my kids. Less explanations, less hovering, less everything… because everywhere else we are ON, you know? YOU know.
May 2nd, 2011 at 11:26 am
How beautiful. How encouraging and challenging for me. I just sent an e-mail of thanks. Thanks to you for the reminder. May I be Grandma Betty to those at my church.
May 2nd, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Oh, Shanda. You are so fantastic! I should have made ‘thank you letter/email’ everyone’s homework for today. That would have been awesome.
May 2nd, 2011 at 11:28 am
Amen and amen. Can I just copy and paste this to Clark’s nursery (and now primary) leaders? Save me the trouble of not having it come out quite so perfectly. 🙂 But seriously, we cannot thank them enough, can we?
May 2nd, 2011 at 11:07 pm
I love this post. it is so important to thank the special volunteers who give each week. I know i appreciate it when I am appreciated.
May 3rd, 2011 at 7:02 am
People in uniform make me cry too, and so do large crowds cheering!
I feel like I never know how to tell you how much these letters mean to me and how much you mean to me, especially after reading your letters. My words seem so inadequate, but I love you so much, and the nursery workers for loving your kids so good!
May 3rd, 2011 at 11:14 am
Katie, this is GREAT.
May 4th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
This is so nice.