Birthdays.......

This week I have had a big birthday.  Its been a thought provoking week one way or the other.  Firstly a colleague at work sadly lost her battle with a very short lived illness.  Where as I knew them I didn't really know them but it obviously had an affect on the people around me.  It made me stop and think about where I was and what impact I am having and what would people say of me if I was no longer here.  


Taking compliments and gifts and people saying nice things to me doesn't come easily.  Because I had my birthday this week I had a lot of lovely gifts and cards, none more than from my lovely year 9 girls.  They continue to amaze me with what they come up with and to top it all what they will do for me.  Today they organised a BBQ for me and them at one of their houses. They bought me gifts and cards, made me a cake and generally were very willing to tell me that they loved me and really appreciated me and what I do.  This also includes the parents who continue to express their thanks for what I do.  But what do I do? 


I turn up each week to ID, I have them round for lunch and let them sit in my bath (fully clothed), I get them food each week for the group, I sit and listen, I offer them a shoulder to cry on, a hug when they are down, a laugh when its all going well or playing them on the Wii, drive my car to pick them up and drop them off, give up my holiday to do Newday, cry with them, organise evenings, offer a word of encouragement or wisdom and ultimately pray for them.  They frustrate me, they bring me joy, they cause me concern and worry and I love them.  They are my spiritual children.  But I am not their parent.  The joy is I look after them for a few hours a week but then send them home to their earthy parents.  I don't get the moods, the door slamming or the general being a teenage girl hormones (apart from at Newday)  But our heavenly father loves them and loves me.  Not for what I have done or am doing but because he loves me for who I am and just that.  I don't deserve it but he loves me anyway. 


Taking compliments is not in my nature.  I often think I don't deserve them and get embarrassed as I don't do anything special, just live my life in the way I think God wants me to serve.  But in a way I need to accept the compliments gracefully and humbly. I give thanks to God for what he has done for me and he accepts it. I need to accept that God has sent these people to be part of my life and take their thanks. I need to continue doing what I do and live my life according to what God tells me to do, a small hug can go along way.


So, what would people say about me..........................