Paper Bag Princess

Today I come sharing a post with no fancy scripture or beautiful song. This post is about a moment in which my heart was so happy, it almost leaped out of my chest.

Yesterday at Honolulu First Church of the Nazarene, we attended a program to teach us about the Nazarene faith. I knew from previous experiences that the Nazarene ideals and the Methodist are very similar but I didn't know to what extent. I felt that if we were going to become regular attendees to this church, that we should be aware of the many facets that make up this particular religion. 

On the way to church, Irelynn told me that she really wanted to start making blessing bags again. Now a blessing bag is really just a care package that she came up with to help the homeless in our Oklahoma community. She put together a small, non-perishable meal and a card from our church and had them ready for when we happened across such a fellow.

So we began a discussion about what she could do, how she could best use resources available to her and how she could be serve this community. The children attended the program with me because I believe they are old enough to share in this decision. They were both attentive and active participants. One question Irelynn asked in particular makes me think much on her future. She asked if it was considered missionary work if you reached out to your local community. She said she would like to learn different languages to be able to share the word with people here that may not have access to it. 

After the program ended for the day, I suggested that she speak with the preacher about her idea for the blessing bags. Pastor Randy seems very much to be a person with a heart for missions. Not surprisingly, he loved the idea and even gave Irelynn another gentleman who has been nudging the pastor about restarting a similar activity that the church once took part in. She was so filled with joy that it filled me up as well.

The message in service that day was about the story of the paper bag princess and the Apostle Paul. Sometimes, the heroes we have in the world don't come dressed as such. They are the ordinary everyday that have such extraordinary love, compassion and drive in their hearts that it must be shared. And then, in the story of Paul, we are reminded that our work is nothing more than to give back the gift of love we were first given and to share it.

My little paper bag princess has great big things in her future and I can't wait to watch them unfold.