We recently went through a transition in changing our Vision Onward night with the kids to Friday nights. We were trying to accomodate the schedules of those who were interested in volunteering, which can become quite difficult. There were church schedules, sports schedules, social schedules, work schedules and so forth. . . .we all know how that goes.
Since we began VO nights with the west side kids, we have had it on three different nights. We started on Wednesday nights, then moved to Thursday nights and now currently to Friday nights. What is interesting about this to me is that it doesn't matter at all to our VO kids what night we meet- - - -they are ALWAYS available. These children do not have schedules. They simply can't afford to be involved in activities.
When I first realized this, it was quite sad to me and I started thinking, "how can we get these children sponsored so they can be involved in the same activities that the east side kids are?"
Then as I began to think more about it, I have come to believe it is probably a GOOD thing they are not so busy! They are always available for whatever it is we want to do with them and whenever we want to do it.
Not only are they available, they have low expectations. They do not expect to have some kind of amazing presentation or entertainment. They just want to come hang out with us. It took me a while to "get this" because I am so used to a different set of expectations- - -my children and even my own. I wanted to have the best games, the best curriculum, the best entertainment, yada, yada, yada.
These children do not need any of that, they simply want to be loved. They want hugs so we give out LOTS of those. They want to be listened to and it's easy to do that. And we must not forget, they love to be fed, so we always do that. It is as simple as that!
So many times I try to complicate things when they are really quite simple. Jesus never told us we had to have the best curriculum or the best entertainment to bring people to him. He simply tells us to "LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND and to "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF". It really is all about LOVE and being available to receive it and to give it and THAT is nothing fancy.
So, in the end, I am so thankful that our VO kids are exactly the way they are - -available with low expectations.
