Every Life Matters
Sunday, as the kiddos walked into our room, they were reminded that Jesus loves them. They were able to guess who Jesus loves, and their faces were absolutely precious as they saw themselves in the mirror.
We began our time together by reviewing the lessons we have learned together this year. The children were so excited to make the craft Ms. Paula had left for them. Seeing the joy on their faces was such a sweet reminder of the love she poured into each of them.
Then we opened God’s Word to Luke 15, where Jesus tells two parables to help us understand just how much God loves every person. A shepherd leaves ninety-nine sheep to search for one that is lost, and a woman carefully searches her house until she finds one lost coin. When each is found, there is great rejoicing.
These stories remind us that every person is valuable to God. He knows each of us by name, loves us deeply, and never stops pursuing us. Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost, and when someone places their faith in Him, heaven rejoices.
We also talked about something every child, and every adult, experiences. Life isn’t always easy. Sometimes life feels messy. Sometimes we feel sad. Sometimes things happen that we don’t understand. In those moments, it can be easy to wonder if God sees us or cares about what we’re going through. These parables remind us that He does. God never forgets us, never stops loving us, and never stops pursuing us. He is with us in both the joyful moments and the difficult ones.
To help reinforce that truth, the children made slime using shaving cream, glue, food coloring, glitter, and tiny foam balls. The bigger the mess, the better! I know Ms. Paula would agree. As they mixed everything together, I reminded them that life can get messy, but God isn’t afraid of our mess. He meets us right in the middle of it, walks with us through it, and offers us hope through Jesus.
As they stretched their slime, we talked about how God’s love stretches over every part of our lives. His love is with us when we’re happy. His love is with us when we’re sad. His love is with us when life doesn’t make sense. No matter what we face, nothing can separate those who belong to Him from His love.
Today’s lesson was a beautiful reminder for all of us that God loves every person, never stops seeking those who are lost, and is with us even when life feels messy, confusing, or uncertain.
I pray that as we honored God today, we also honored Paula well.
The glue, the glitter, and the shaving cream all seemed messy on their own. But when we brought them together and added the colors, they became something beautiful.
As I watched the children creating today, I couldn’t help but think that’s a little like what God did through Paula. Long before we ever met her, He created her with unique gifts, a joyful and generous spirit, and a heart that loved others so well. Then, in His perfect timing, He wove her story into ours. She faithfully poured those gifts into our lives and into the lives of so many children.
Our lives are more beautiful because God chose to weave Paula into our story. Her fingerprints are all over the lives of the children she loved, the memories we share, and the ministry we were blessed to serve together. I will always be grateful for the way God used her to reflect His love to all of us.
I also want to thank the Kindergarten Sunday School teacher for thinking of our class. She surprised the kiddos with a special treat from Krispy Kreme, and they enjoyed doughnuts during our morning together before heading home with a bag full of goodies.
It made me smile because it was so fitting. In true Ms. Paula fashion, the children left with full hearts, happy smiles, and a little something extra to remind them they are loved.
Then God gave me one more sweet reminder of Paula’s legacy during Kids Praise.
A sweet little fella, let’s call him “D,” quietly walked up to me and said, “I’m praying for Ms. Paula’s family.”
I immediately started crying because I wasn’t ready for it.
We had D in our class a couple of years ago, and Ms. Paula absolutely loved giving him the hardest time because he always used so much glue. It was everywhere! She would laugh, tease him, and cut up with him every single week. Even this past year, she would still smile and talk about “all that glue.” She had such a special way of connecting with children and making them feel deeply loved.
As D was leaving, he stopped one more time and said, “I’m going to keep praying for Ms. Paula’s family.”
This time I didn’t cry.
I just smiled and told him, “She loved you so much, D, and that would mean the world to her.”
Children may not remember every thing we teach, but they remember the people who made them feel loved.
Today, D reminded me that the seeds Ms. Paula planted are still growing.
As I sat down to write, I realized I’m still not finished talking about Paula.
Not because I’m trying to hold on to the past, but because I’m still seeing the fruit of a life faithfully lived for Jesus.
I believe we need stories like hers. In a world that often celebrates popularity, influence, and recognition, Paula reminds us that the Kingdom of God often grows through quiet faithfulness. Through showing up. Through loving children well. Through laughing over too much glue, giving away little treats, praying faithfully, and pointing every opportunity back to Jesus.
God never wastes a moment, and He certainly didn’t waste Paula’s life. He is still using her story to encourage me, to remind our children they are deeply loved, and to point all of us to Christ.
So, yes, there will probably be more stories about Ms. Paula. Not because she would have wanted the spotlight, but because she spent her life reflecting the One who deserves it. If sharing her story helps someone see Jesus more clearly, then I think it is a story worth telling.
