March First Kidz

Wide-eyed, little toothless-dimpled smiles, tender hands, and hearts filled with love were recently able to go on mission right here in our community.  Sixteen AWANA families had the great privilege of visiting our church widows and delivering Valentine's flowers and cards to each of them.  This visit was more than just delivering flowers.  It was about sharing the love of Christ with others and letting our widows know that they are cherished, loved, and remembered. 

This special delivery mission comes with a pretty remarkable story that only God could have orchestrated.  My sweet momma went home to her Savior about a year and a half ago.  However, the twelve years before that, she lived her life as a widow after the passing of my daddy.  The first Valentine’s Day after my daddy passed away, was the first Valentine’s Day in their forty-four years of marriage that she had not received a Valentine from her love.  This realization sparked a mission in my momma.  She decided that if she missed getting a Valentine from her love, then surely all the other widows felt the same.  So, she spent the rest of her widowed Valentine days ministering to the widows at her church in Bevil Oaks.  Every Valentine’s Day she would deliver/mail special heart felt Valentines to each of them (maybe a day or three late-she wasn’t well known for her promptness J).  These simple cards were a special, cherished moment shared between two widows.   

Fast forward to about 6 months ago….  I was asked to lead in the ministry of finding Beaumont’s FBC partner families to deliver flowers and cards.  No one knew about my momma and her “card legacy” before asking me to take on this role.  I happily and eagerly agreed all while thinking about my momma.  In preparation for the Valentine deliveries, I was going through a drawer in my momma’s house.  I discovered her pile of Valentine cards that she would have used this year if she were still this side of heaven.  I was able to use those cards and AWANA families were able to deliver them to our widows.  Momma didn’t know when she placed those cards in that drawer that they would be delivered by the little toothless-dimpled smiles of our AWANA kiddos in her absence.  BUT God did!

May we never grow weary of doing good for the glory of God and the love of His people.  I challenge you to go and purposefully be on mission with your children.  Let them watch you, help you, and model you as you serve the Lord and His people.  Leave a “Card Legacy” for your children and grandchildren to follow!