Happy Wednesday, church family!

I was a junior high winter camp counselor when I was about 20 years old, with a brand new group of girls that I was just getting to know. We played chubby bunny one night in the cabin, screaming in laughter. (Chubby bunny is a game where you keep putting marshmallows in your mouth until you can no longer say “chubby bunny”. It’s quite messy, kinda gross, and absolutely hilarious). We had a great time that weekend. We had a few serious cabin talks, but I remember being young, inexperienced, and not really sure anything other than my marshmallow drool would stick in the girls’ memories. 

By the time the girls graduated from high school and went off on their own, I had grown closer to several of them, spending time together and mentoring them along the way. But I often wondered what kind of impact my young, inexperienced “words of advice” would actually have on them. Because now, as a full-grown human and mother, I realize I probably would have said things differently.

Then about ten years ago, one of the girls “Leah” reached out to me. She said she was going through a divorce, and struggling with who she was outside of the relationship with her ex. She said that it was my words about marriage, identity, and God, that pulled her through some rough times. She wanted to thank me for all my love, support, and advice during her teenage years. I was floored. I had no idea that my words had even sunk in, let alone made such an impact on her. 

In Andy’s sermon Sunday, he talked about no matter who we are, where we’re from, that we have blessings to give. So often, when I pray for someone, or try to do something nice, I can get discouraged, not knowing if my efforts made any difference. My interactions with Leah showed me that even my younger self could bless someone, and I was blessed with the privilege for her to tell me about it years later. Leah’s encouragement even prompted me to call a youth leader I had in college, and tell her how much she had meant to me. 

Jesus, thank You for the reminder that we are always able to bless someone, through words, actions, or prayer. I choose to be faithful and obedient in loving and serving others, even when I don’t see the impact. Bless and seal these good things in Your name, amen. 

May your week be blessed,

Lisa

PS Here’s chubby bunny in action: