I was in the church office late one night a few weeks ago as our ESL families were arriving for classes. I heard the excited chatter of children bursting through the front door and looked up just in time to see two adorable kids scramble in and run straight for the bowl of mints that sits on our welcome table in the front hall. They were on a mission! Clearly they were friends with that bowl.
They grabbed a couple peppermints and dashed off down the hallway. There, compassionate adults were waiting to welcome, and care for them while their parents studied English in pursuit of a better life here in a place that was not their home, but is now their new home. They felt at home here.
As they hurried off they smiled at me, waved and shouted, “Hi missus!”. I smiled and waved back at them, telling them to have fun. As they ran off, I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. I laughed at the simple joy of kids coming through our doors excited about something as simple as a small peppermint candy.
I have no idea what brought them to this part of the world so far from their birthplaces, but here they are. They come needing what all children need to thrive, warmth, welcome, love and care. I knew that is exactly what they are finding here.
In that brief moment I was overwhelmed. I blinked back tears, surprised by the depth of my own heart response to this simple scene, this living reality of the words that are on our walls, our website and branded into our hearts. Unlimited welcome.
My tears were tears of joy, and wonder, and gratitude that God allows me to be in this place, at this time where we take Jesus’ teaching so seriously, where our eyes are constantly wide open, looking for new ways to do our small part in sharing the beautiful light of the unlimited welcome of Jesus to all.
