Your Words Make a Difference
As children’s church leaders we may never know how our words and actions might impact a child of divorced, never married or separated parents. This week I was blessed to find out how much I had said over a year ago impacted a young man’s life.
In the fall of 2010 and early 2011 I led DC4K, DivorceCare for Kids, at a church in North Carolina. That next summer I moved to Florida to be near my own grandchildren. I have never completely left the family of one little boy from the class. We stay in touch through FaceBook.
This week I noticed a message his mom had posted on FaceBook.
“As I was laying in the bed tonight listening to my son say his prayers and he talked about Mrs. Linda and how he missed her and how much he missed going to church. And he said he missed learning about God…”
I responded with this message,
I am so honored that your son still remembers me. He is one special little boy. Hold him tight and give him a big hug from me. I miss him too. Please get him to church. This is his time to learn about God and to lean on Him. It will be harder as he gets older. Most people come to accept Christ as their Savior by age 14. After that it is not impossible but harder for people to come to know Christ. I will be praying for you and your kids this weekend as we celebrate and remember the pain and suffering that Christ went through for us. Think you have suffered with pain? It is nothing compared to our Savior’s suffering.
I can be pretty bold on FaceBook when I’m talking to single parents. My intention is not to hurt them but to get their attention and to allow the Lord to work in their lives.
My friend shot this message right back.
“You are so right…. And you know what is amazing? He said, “I learned a lot about God because of Mrs. Linda and how He died for us.” He said, “She even told us what Easter was about.” He went on to tell me what he knew and he knows it all. Then he got upset and teary eyed because you are gone. I told him God brought you into our life for a reason and you are not gone. You are in our hearts. I said, “So when we miss her know she is always with you.” And he said “Okay, I know” and then gave me the biggest hug. It took him a while to go to sleep but after that he hugged me and was out with in 5 min.”
I have to share with you that I don’t remember what I said about Easter to this child…but he remembers. I do remember wondering if anything I was saying was making a difference to this kid. It is amazing to me how God can take something we say and plant it in the hearts of these children. And He plants it so deep that it stays with them for years.
Praise be to God for His infinite wisdom in understanding the little children. And praise be to God for allowing me to share in a very small part of this child’s life.
As we approach Easter this year, remember little ears are listening more intently than you can every dream possible.
Christ has risen. Indeed He has risen.
For more resources and information on divorce, family disruption and modern families please visit our Hope 4 Hurting Kids Divorce and Modern Family Help Center.
This article is updated and adapted from an article originally published on Divorce Ministry 4 Kids on April 06, 2012.
