Learning from VBS

For years I have conveniently avoided helping at VBS. I never felt like it was something I was "called" to do, so I would weasel my way out of the volunteer meetings and avoid the director like the plague.
This year, something different happened. One of my new best friends in Cali is the Children's Minister at our church. Enter VBS. And this conversation, "So...I'm looking for someone to help me at VBS, just run around and make sure people have everything they need...you interested?"  In that moment, I wanted to say no. I wanted to, I really did, but what came out was, "Sure. Yeah. Can I have a clip board?" 
In the months that followed I helped her pick a theme, I went to volunteer meetings and I helped run the decorating committee. 
Last night was the big day. Opening day. In rolled 70 kids, ages 4-12 for a week full of VBS. In the midst of running around making sure the teachers had the right papers, answering questions that I didn't know the answers to, and make sure cute little guys didn't cry, I realized something. 
VBS is fun. 
It is. Real, genuine, fun.
 These kids don't care that my hair was a mess, that my paper chain drawbridge fell down or that I had no idea what I was doing half of the time. All they cared about was that I gave 3 hours of my time to make them a portcullis from duck tape, family crests from painted pizza boxes and told them if they were scared they could hang out with me.  They only cared about the hugs, love and attention that was showered upon them for 3 hours.  For those 3 hours, they were the star attractions.  
Then I realized, this must be a little taste of how God feels when we finally understand the love and grace He has for us.  He doesn't care that our hair is a mess, that we sometimes say the wrong thing or act in a way He isn't that fond of. All that matters is that we understand that He loves us.  All that matters is for that split second we understand that His grace means we can conquer the world. 

God is always speaking, always trying to show us something new. I'm sad that I waited so long to let VBS teach me this lesson. Tonight I'll go back and patch up my paper chain drawbridge. I'll hope that no one cries for their mom, and I will wait for the next lesson these little guys can teach me.