I missed the entirety of VBS this year, but I was curious about how it looked, so I stopped by the church on my way home in hopes someone would be there to let me in. Thankfully, there was someone, so I got the chance to wander the halls and look around. The set up on the stage was really impressive and the videos I have seen showed the kids having a wonderful time! But my absolute favorite place was the hallway where the children posted their prayer requests. They ranged from somewhat silly, to downright sad. There were cute ones, and painfully honest ones. Ones that made me smile, and ones that made me pause…

Among them I found…

• A prayer for a mother’s heartburn to go away.
• A plea that their parents wouldn’t get a divorce.
• A request that their uncle would stop drinking.
• A thank you for Chick Fil A.
• A prayer for healing for a brother’s bee sting
• A prayer that their loved one doesn’t die.

What struck me was the innocent honesty of these children, and I was awed at the things that lie heavy on their hearts. Divorce, alcoholism, death- such big problems for such small people. I know God answered prayers this week, and I know these children got to see the church in action. I am so grateful to all the men and women that took the time out of their lives to invest in these kids, and work hard to assure them that God hears those prayers, that those prayers matter, and that they are valuable and loved. I have no doubt that lives were changed this week!

Matthew 18:2-5