There is so much that adults can learn from kids...How is that the willingness to be dependent, try new things, learn about everything around you and have fun are things that fade as we get older?! Seriously people, kids have got it going on!
I have always had a love for kids, since I was a child myself. As the summer before my 12th birthday approached, I did everything humanly possible to push myself into the babysitting scene. I took a SafeSitters course, got certified in CPR (ps-who would want a 12 year old girl doing CPR on anyone?), volunteered at the daycare at my church and began to offer my services as what is now called a "mother's helper" to pretty much anyone with young children. I was determined. I was passionate.
By the time I was 13, I was babysitting 15 kids on my own for over 2 hours while their parents had small group downstairs. FIFTEEN children. It was stressful, I didn't get paid much and I was ready to sleep for days after it was over, but for some strange reason I loved it. And I looked forward to Monday nights. Again, passion.
The years passed, the passion grew. Now, over 10 years later, I am able to use my passion to pay the bills...how perfect is that?! But, when it comes down to the truth of the matter, I couldn't care less about the money, it's the opportunity to have a tiny part in transforming children into considerate, loving and passionate adults.
As a young teenager, I found joy in playing with children, gaining new responsibilities and investing in the lives of the kids around me. For over a decade I have been able to pour myself into the lives of the children and families around me. Some have come and gone, but some have left a mark on my heart that is sure to stay for decades to come. I have had the joy of being there to see so many "first's": teeth, steps, words, skinned knees, toothless smiles...I have cheered at countless ball games, had hundreds of tea parties, wiped thousands of tears off their cheeks, drawn more pictures of SpongeBob than I could count, given underdogs until my arms were sore, laughed til it hurt, played hide-and-seek for hours, read hundreds of bedtime stories and received hundred of the best hugs.
Some people take the opportunity to be a part of a child's life for granted and it breaks my heart. I know for a fact that I would not be the person that I am today without all of the children and families who have taught me more than I could ever learn in a class. The spark of passion that ignited inside of me over a decade ago has grown into a raging fire that burns for the kids and families of our society.
God has given me this passion and I intend to use it.
