Paul the “proud parent”
This week has been a good week, especially when compared to some specific days. In fact, one of those days was Monday. Put briefly, any day that the kids don’t have school will be a difficult day. It seems to me they sit at home until camp, storing up both their hyperness and attitudes. I’m fortunate to get it handed to me once they walk in the door.
But I digress. Monday was hard, and gave me a poor expectation for the rest of the week (it doesn’t help when a chunk of the kids say, “I’m not coming to camp tomorrow” or “this week” or “ever again”). Tuesday, I expected 5 kids. This is when God showed that He’s still working. The first shock, the kids started coming on time (instead of the usual 45 minutes late). The second shock, all the “I’m not coming kids” came (honestly, I figured they were bluffing). The third shock, some previously absent kids came. The fourth shock (yeah, I’m still going), some of the kids brought friends, who already had permission from their parents to come to camp. The fifth and final shock, I had 16 kids in camp. 16. That’s a record. In all, attendance was great this week (save for one day), and I have 4 new kids, who seem like they will come regularly.
But this isn’t what made me the “proud parent”; that came Thursday. Thursday was the other extreme in attendance: 4 kids. This was partly do to the fact 4 of them were involved in some talent show. I’m not sure what the other part was. Though there were just four kids, it was a good day. Mid-way through, I got a call from the office. The mom of one of my girls had called to let me know that her daughter was in some dance thing that night. I thought about it; on one hand, it would be good to go as her director. Plus, she has yet to come to camp this year, so this might be a good way to show I miss her at camp. On the other hand, it was at 6:00 (I don’t leave camp until 6:00) and at a school I had never been to (nor did I know where it was). So, I wasn’t sure what to do.
The end of the day comes, and I decide I will go if the school is in the city. It turns out to be just a few blocks away. So, I head over, 5 minutes late. I was a bit scared about parking (wasn’t sure where the parking lot would be), but, by “chance”, there was a spot on the street in front of the main door. I parked, and went in; the auditorium was extremely dark (they were already onto the third part of the program), so I just sat in the first good seat I could find. By “chance”, I came in just as one of my girls was presenting a piece on MLK JR. By “chance”, those four kids and that one girl were in the same show (I had thought the talent show was during camp.) That’s about when I heard, “Mr. Paul”. By “chance”, I had sat on the same row as one of the boys from camp, and his mom. She seemed impressed to see me there. The show went on, and I saw one of my 6th graders on the drums, having a great time. Then I saw the other girl, dancing. Watching my kids up there made me smile, made me laugh, and made me very glad I had gotten that call, by “chance”. That’s when I heard another, “Paul”. By “chance”, I had sat just across the aisle from one of my 1st graders and her mom.
The show was great; your typical elementary school performance, but I think that’s what makes it great. I loved seeing my kids on stage, and seeing my kids in the audience. I loved seeing the parents and talking to them. It was just a great night that I had no idea would happen until 6:00 that night.
The message here is clear, and can be summed up nicely: there is no “chance”, there is only God.
God led that parent to call the office, and the office to call me. God led me to have an open night, and to find a spot right in front of the school. God led me to sit by my kids, and had the kids be in the same show.
God’s working in my camp, He’s working in my life. He’s made that clear, once again.
