Last year we hosted our first annual SpringHill party with the counselors who run our week long camp for kids. This year we had two weeks at our main campus and a week before that our one of our multi-sites. I was traveling for the first two weeks in June (thank you Kate for taking care of the house and kids while I was working). Anyways, I digress, but my wife asked if I would mind if our house hosted 4 young women counselors from Spring Hill.We were blessed! We had four wonderful young ladies who were full of spunk and who eventually let their hair down in our house! It was a pleasure to know them. It was a pleasure to know the love that they have for Jesus - and how they share that love with kids (with our kids).
Tonight, we had forty counselors over our house for "Brinner" (which means in this generation: Breakfast for dinner). Thanks to two great friends of my wife and I (Master Chef and Master Chef Wife) - we had a successful run at our annual year two pool party.
I met one counselor who hailed from Hawaii (how he ended up in the Midwest - I will never know). We got to talking as I asked him about all the tattoos that he had on his body. One was a Greek phrase, which mean, bondservant/servant. As we started talking about that he shared part of his testimony. He was walking in a life that was not desirable to his church or our God and he knew it. He had one section of people who wanted to throw him out of the church (life as we know it) and he had a group of individual who impacted his life tremendously - I call it the Church of Galatians 6: 1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
They met him where he was at. They loved him for who he was and who they knew that he could become - they didn't give up on him - they were a friend to him. Since that day - let me tell you I just spent just a couple hours tonight observing him - you have a disciple of Christ - who will grow into someone who will finish well. I don't want to name him now as I didn't ask for permission in sharing this story, but he impacted me.
It reminds me to never forget those who we think cannot be helped - God is much bigger than we realize. It reminds me of how blessing others really does bless us. It reminds me to finish well, no matter the cost.
Thank you Spring Hill Counselors! Thank you ladies who blessed us these past two weeks! Thank you Ray & Mary and Thank you Lord for keeping me humble enough to catch these wonderful moments in life.
To God Be the Glory! Let Go and Let God.
Blessings,Dante