What I Learned from Hannah Grace Today

I was on the phone when a knock came on my office door.  I could see just the top of her head in the window and I could hear her crying.  I abruptly ended the call and ran to let that precious child in my office.

She was sobbing and snuffing and I finally understood that she thought her parents had left the Church House without her.  I highly doubted that, but quickly picked up my phone and texted them both, saying that Hannah Grace was in my office and asked where were they?

I praised her for making such a good choice once she realized her parents were lost!  She came and found an adult she knew would help her. I let her hold my phone so she would see as soon as one of them texted back, which was almost immediately.  Her mother had left, but her daddy was downstairs.  And, I have to tell you, it has been an absollute circus at the Church House this week.  Summer Adventure, which is what we call Vacation Bible School, in the mornings and Youth Mission Week in the afternoons.  Her parents were quite involved with seeing to it that all sorts of people were in their assigned places at the appointed times.  I’m surprised that one or both of then hadn’t gotten lost earlier in the week.

I have had the good fortune to be telling the stories for Summer Adventure this week, and Hannah Grace has come through my class each day.  Today, the story was about Jesus calling the fishermen and we talked about making good choices.

Within just a few hours, Hannah Grace was faced with a choice.  When she realized that her parents were lost, she bravely set off down the very long hall, made the turn and came up another hall to where she knew I would be.  She wisely chose to seek help.  And I was oh! so! happy to help her.

I dried her tears and when we knew that her mother was coming up to get her, I told her about a time that my parents left me at church.  I was about her age.  We laughed about it, because I got left outside on a cold winter day in Iowa and thought I would be a frozen Molli-sicle before they came back for me.  Before I could finish the story, Hannah’s mother was there.  All was right with her world.

I was just thrilled to know that precious child felt coming to my office was safe and she would find help.  I was also humbled by her trust.  And I wondered why it is I resist those very same actions?  When I feel lost and alone, my first reaction is to figure it out myself.  To go in search of my own solution rather than simply going to the place I know is safe and the One who will offer comfort.

There is a part of me that absolutely resists the surrender to open arms.

But Hannah Grace didn’t.  She fell into my arms and let me hold her.  She is quite wise, that Hannah Grace.

I hope I’m like her when I grow up.

~Mollianne