When I started serving in Grace Kids over a year ago, I saw it as a way to give back to a ministry that had done so much for my family of four. As a “fill-in mom” who served a few times a month, I’d bounce around to different classrooms — wherever I was most needed. For those first few months, I felt excited to be there, to be with the kids and to be giving back. But at the same time, I never felt like a true part of the team. Since I wasn’t serving every week, it was difficult to develop deep relationships with the kids and other teachers.

It wasn’t long before I was asked to become a regular team member. A leadership position had opened up in one of the classrooms, and while it was an opportunity to play a bigger role, it also required a bigger commitment. I’d have to serve each Sunday, plus attend a monthly team huddle. As a busy mom of two kids with special needs, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to fit it in around my schedule. In addition, it would change the way Sundays looked for our entire family. My husband would have to get our kids, then 1 and 3, ready and walk them to church without me. And because leaders serve during both first and second service, Matt and I would have to attend service separately or get a sitter during third service to attend together.

I expected Matt to be hesitant and worry about all the “extra work,” but he got it right away. He fully understands what it is to serve God and was happy to support me in that. Somehow he knew the fulfillment that serving in Grace Kids would bring to my life.

As for me, after praying about it, I realized that I was looking at it all wrong. I shouldn’t have tried to fit serving around my schedule like a secondary part of my life. I realized I should be fitting my schedule around serving God and trusting him to provide.

So that’s what I did, and I haven’t regretted it for a single minute. I love serving in Grace Kids so much that I feel totally off if I miss a week. No matter how tired I am when I get there on Sunday mornings, I always leave feeling filled and excited. I feel more connected than ever – and like our family belongs to our church body. I know this is where God wants me to be and that he is celebrating the impact our ministry is having on all of the precious children that he’s entrusted to us. I thank Him every day for bringing me to where I am, and now I couldn’t imagine my life without Grace Kids.

Megan is the leader of the Babies classroom in Grace Kids.

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