The boy in club

God has been laying something on my heart and that is the children. I mean, I work in children's ministry but as I work with some teachers and other adults, I see the apathy towards the cries of the children. Let's use this boy in my Good News Club (GNC) as an example, we will call him Jace.

Photo by Katherine Chase on Unsplash

My first impression of him was at an open house for the school and his mom was signing him up for GNC. First impression was that he seemed like a sweet kid. He is a 3rd grader with a brother in 2nd grade. Jace smiled at me and launched into conversation and his brother, we'll call him Dan, joined in.  They seemed like cool kids. Their mother did not seem cool. She was overweight, almost toothless, scantily dressed and in your face rude. She not only rebuffed my attempts to make small talk, she instead proceeded to tell me that her son, Jace, was a terrible kid. She warned me that he was going to be a problem in club. After a few tense minutes, she left my table with her boys and went over to another table where she announced to the women there, "This is Jace, he is a lying, stealing cheat; was can you do to fix him?" I could has slapped her. Her son was standing among not only peers, but adults and being told that he was worthless and unlovable. I went home that night in a fury of anger. How could a mother treat her son this way? How can the woman who should love this child the most berate and criticize him in front of adults? If anyone should be standing up for Jace, it should be his mother.
Club started the following week. I made it a point to remember Jace and his brother's names. "Jace and Dan. Jace and Dan. Jace and Dan. Jace and Dan." I repeated this over and over to get it into my head. When they arrived I was thrilled and they were excited that I remembered their names. I was apprehensive, maybe I should be more cautious. I am sure their mother knows her sons better than I would. Maybe she has good reason to be so upfront and critical of Jace.
Opening prayer, no problems, song, no problems, memory verse, no problems, Bible lesson, no problems, review game, closing, snacks, no problems! We have had SIX weeks of club. No problems. Here's the thing, Jace is not the problem. Jace is the victim of trauma.
Hear me out, why does a child act out? For the fun of it or to get attention? Maybe because the only way he knows to have an adult notice him is by acting out. As a child, they need to know that someone cares and loves them. I look at Jace and I see, not a problem child, but a child desperately crying out for someone to love him but coming away empty. I see teachers, parents, pastors, who have written him off as a lost cause; at 9 years old! "Jace is a problem child" "Jace causes problems in club" "Jace doesn't listen" Jace needs love! The love of an adult who will take the time to get to know him and show him the love of God in a practical way. Jace needs someone to care enought to love him like Jesus does. Jesus loves Jace. Jace is a child of God. Whether he has assurance or not, he has believed in Jesus and is a beloved child of the king. Jace is a precious treasure, the apple of God's eye, a prince.

People say "you are worthless," God says, "you are a priceless treasure."
People say "you are a problem child," God says, "you are my child."
People say "you are unlovable," God says, "I love you, Jace."

Photo by Alex Guillaume on Unsplash