I thought I would hate leading a 3rd and 4th grade girls small group. Genuinely. But here’s what I’ve found. I couldn’t love anything more. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting exactly, but all of my fears were completely wrong. All they had to do was smile and share their prayer requests for the first time and I was hooked. When you pray for cats having babies, adoptions, moms who are tired, and brothers who won’t share…you’re just mush. All that you have to do to be loved and admired by them is SHOW. UP. They will attach to you instantly and be kind, but they’ll trust you deeply and let you speak into their life if you continue to JUST. COME. You don’t have to be amazing or wise or funny. Just be there when you say you’ll be there. It’s that simple.

Tonight, a 3rd grader in my small group came up to me and said, “Miss Michelle, I really love you. Do you know what? The best part of coming to class is seeing you. Thanks for always being here for me.”

Sweet as sugar, right? And that right there is why God has wrecked my heart for these young girls. I’ve noticed over the last few weeks that the more I get to know these girls, the more they open up to me. They share more, ask more questions, and they listen. What can you do for the next generation? They are really hungry from someone to care enough about them…to simply show up. And once you prove that you will, an amazing thing happens. They’ll listen.