Kids Just Want to Have Fun……

As I stood at the top of the stairs of our local “Pavilion” for our 2012 Prom Breakfast, I was reminded of this truism…call me sentimental, but I so loved watching the SCHS students down below having good, clean fun and simply

Playing

These kids may have had the bodies of 18, 17 and16 year olds, but they had the spirit of 8, 7 and 6 year olds…and, it was…

Refreshing

The mother in me was touched with their laughter, their playfulness, their spontaneity

Their joy

Laughter wafted up the room to reach me and it made my heart smile long and wide

To give our local students…kids….children three hours of pure fun.  A time when they could lay down their stresses at the door, take of their socks and shoes and play.

Where the pressures of drugs, alcohol, sex and violence were muted and where laughing, tickling, giggling, dancing, sliding, jumping were enhanced…

Where “acting their age” was endorsed and encouraged.

I just loved it.  I loved being in that moment where you know it is a "good" moment....where kids you do not even know draw into your heart and make you want to protect them and shield them and

love them

I could have lined them all up in a row one by one and hugged them ....it was tempting.  And, if I didn't think they would think I was crazy, I might have done just that.

Instead, I went down the stairs to walk among them....

Up close and personal, it was even more of a blessing.  To see the girls eyes sparkle with delight as they were picked up and carried to the slide, to see young men "put their DOUGIE (a dance) on the dance floor.  Watching hands cover over mouths as laughter escaped.  Seeing boys pat one another on the back as they made a goal. 

Even their words were pretty sweet to my ears...

Him:  "I haven't had this much fun in a long time"....

Her: laughing...  "you mean you haven't had this much "good" fun in a long time?" 

Him:  "yea....its good to just be a kid for a night"

Priceless.

Why is it that it takes moments like this to make us realize how precious are our children?  When YOUR children become my children and MY children become your children?

And, what can we do to insure that that feeling grows into action of making more and more of these kinds of nights happen with regularity?

I don't know the answer to this.  But, nights like tonight and events such as Prom Breakfast are a start.

There is likely only a few things on which I will agree with Mrs. Clinton, but on this, we are in agreement....(and, this is a changed perspective for me I say humbly)

"It takes a village to raise a child".....and, we are that village.  ALL of us, working together, side by side

to raise and love and nurture

When I care and embrace yours.  And, when you care and embrace mine.

When, we chose to do this together...on purpose.

When we take time our of our busy, busy, yes, I understand....very busy lives to create an environment such as tonight’s for our kids.

And, while it was much work requiring many people and quite a bit of money...

It was so very worth it. 

No, it was not only worth it.  It was powerfully worth it.  Amazingly worth it.

I lay my head, body weary, bones aching, head throbbing, joints crying out for relief...no kidding.  I felt every one of my 50 years last night.

But, as head hit pillow....I had such joy in my heart.

As my husband and I joined hands in prayer, as we do each night, we added a whole new set of children to our family....our Scott County Children.  Those who are healthy, well and thriving, those who are ornery, silly and wearying, and those who are struggling at home, at school, in life.  Where just getting up and living is a battle.

WHAT is it that we can do to make a difference for these children?  What is required of me? 

And, I know with great confidence that as we pray these questions, we better get ready...because God will make clear to us in His way and in His time what it is that we are to do.

And, it will require much of us....

So, we added...."make us ready....make us selfless...make us committed.  Grow we bold...grow us brave...grow us focused".....

For, at the end of our "days"....I am in great faith that all of these things in life we pursue will not matter on whit...In fact, I already know that things will not...

It will be nights like tonight..watching my child and yours play and have fun which will make life have meaning and purpose.

And, knowing that I had some small part in the cause of their laughter..

Again...Priceless.

So, to all of you who encouraged, donated time, money, effort, items.  To you who prayed and supported and watched along with me...

Thank you.

I was blessed beyond measure.

I was encouraged immensely.

I was challenged...to not drop this until next year's Prom Breakfast....but, to figure out ways of how we can keep this continuing...

And, to draw on the wisdom and insight of those who stood as I did last night, having the same warm fuzzy feelings as I...

Who learned long before my "Prom Breakfast" revelation and who dedicated their lives to a night such as this...

They know who they are....and, I am glad for the privilege of being allowed to join their "village".

Join us?

Blessings

Lesa