I recently led the Bible Study portion of our Community VBS. Now in its 6th year, this ecumenical effort crosses denominational lines for the purpose of providing a fun week for community kids centered around our shared love of Jesus Christ. One day the kids and I explored the story of Jonah and the Ninevites. We learned how we are loved by a God of 2nd chances. Then, using a Sharpie marker, I wrote a letter on each of the kid’s fingers so that when they folded their hands in prayer it would read, “2nd Chance God.” I told them it was temporary and would eventually wear off but until then it would serve as a reminder of God’s love which is permanent. Earlier tonight I ran into a woman from the community who had helped at VBS. She shared that a friend of hers had her 6-year-old grandson come home from VBS excited to show her his lettered hands. The next day as he went to the swimming pool, the letters were still on his fingers. He told his grandma, “I’m going to swim to the bottom of the pool and pray to the God of 2nd chances!” Not all of the kids who attend an ecumenical VBS come from a faith tradition grounded in grace. For some of them, the thought that God doesn’t ever give up on them was a new idea. It did my heart good to hear that at least one small child trusted he could pray to the God of 2nd chances and be heard and loved. For those of us steeped in a theology of grace we still need reminders too. Maybe you need to grab a sharpie, write some letters on your fingers, fold your hands in prayer and dive deep into God’s love for you. May you know YOU are loved by a 2nd Chance God too!
Pastor Bethany Walker
