Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Sariya

I have several duties to perform at church between teen leader, choir member, nursery worker, cantata director, but there is none that I enjoy so much or esteem as highly as Sariya's "mom."
I arrive at church, be friendly, smile, greet, shake hands, make all non-nursery children leave the nursery then- the bus arrives. The bus goes into Paulsboro, full of children active, crazy, loud, and not so ready to sit still in church. Amidst all of the noise and the runing and frantic bus workers there is a little girl named Sariya.
Ten years old, head full of braids and beads and for some reason she has chosen me. She needs at least two hugs and a kiss on the head before she will pry her arms off me and go to Sunday school. Sariya doesn't leave until she's certain I will be upstairs to sit with her until Junior church begins.
Why am I so important in her life? Why does she call me of all people, "mom"? I don't even know her last name! I've never been to her house. But she needs to hug me and she needs to talk to me every Sunday and every Wednesday.
Maybe God is reminding me that this world is alot bigger than my personal bubble? Am I just peeping in the mail slot of the door to a beautiful child and a life that needs touching?
How many times to we get the glimpse in someone's "mail slot" but leave it at that and never truly affect the life begging for our godly influence?
How often do we let our personal bubbles be more like concrete walls? Are we letting them know we care?