My 12-year-old neighbor was telling me about his visit to his best friend’s house. The trip was extra special because it required a plane ride from Chicago to New Jersey. And he made the flight solo. No parent or relative flew with him.
I’ve made this same trip hundreds of times, but Erick didn’t know that, so he graciously gave me all the details of air transportation. I began to look at flying, something I do all too often, in a new and exciting way. I viewed it through 12-year-old eyes—the window seat, beverage service, passenger conversation, fluffy clouds, runway lights, friendly flight attendants, and best friends greeting you on the ground.
Erick’s best friend’s family took him to see the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, United Nations, and all the other traditional New York City tourist spots. Because I grew up in northern New Jersey, these were familiar to me, and again taken for granted. Most were on my dad’s tour route for relatives visiting from Scotland. But my young friend’s enthusiasm for sites in the Big Apple helped rekindle my appreciation for them and for Dad’s efforts to share them with me and our out-of-town guests.
It was nice to have my young friend share his special vacation with me. His enthusiasm for adventure in everyday events was contagious. I’m sure this trip to visit his best friend is one he’ll remember for a long time. We tend to store our “firsts” in our memory bank. This trip to the East Coast had lots of firsts for Erick.
Ministry to children provides us with lots of opportunities to enjoy and appreciate firsts. Children’s small steps of growth should always encourage Pioneer Clubs® leaders, Sunday school teachers, and children’s church workers. That growth may show up in successful memorization of Scripture or the confidence gained by learning a new skill. Church provides a wonderful place for children to experience firsts in a safe and caring environment. Pioneer Clubs thrives on bringing firsts into the life of a child in the spiritual area and in life skills.
Because Pioneer Clubs is often a significant outreach ministry for the church, it offers many children the first opportunity to learn about the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. For others it is the first place they learn how God’s Word applies to everyday living. Both are important firsts in the process of faith development. I’m thankful that Pioneer Clubs plays such a critical role in the life of a child. We want to encourage children as they discover many firsts about God and his love.
At times it feels as if I’m rushing through this abundant life. I may hurry by firsts and take them for granted. I’m busy with work, church, and family. My visit with my young neighbor helped remind me to view life through 12-year-old eyes. I need to slow down a little and seek out some new firsts with God.
We’re never too old or too grown up to store spiritual firsts in our soul’s memory bank. We probably can’t recapture the spiritual high we felt when we first became Christians, but we can seek out ways to refresh and renew the soul. That’s one of my goals for this Lenten season.
See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life. 1 John 2:24-25, NIV
Judy Bryson is president/CEO of Pioneer Clubs—a church-sponsored midweek ministry for children, age two through middle school. Pioneer Clubs is a relational ministry that helps children come to faith in Christ and learn how to live daily by his Word. The ministry slogan, Christ in every aspect of life, is the foundation for all that is done in club.
