If you've ever driven in a whiteout or a torrential rain storm, you know how stressful it can be to be unable to see where you are going. Under normal circumstances you can see the lane markers and know you are making progress toward your destination. That makes the journey much more fulfilling but not knowing where you are or if you are making any headway is very frustrating.
Anybody that has worked with children for any length of time knows that there are times when you wonder if what you are doing is getting through. Even as parent, you will have those moments when you ask yourself, "Are we even speaking the same language?"
Rather than waste the money on an ENT to see if the audio channels are actually open, just know that kids catch a whole lot more of what you do and say than you think. The absorption factor is very subtle and so you may rarely get any tangible feedback that validates what you are doing. Since life change is a key measurable for ministry effectiveness, any observable feedback is very helpful and reassuring.
This past weekend a parent who has been attending CATB for 2 months commented that her 2 year old son prayed at dinner this past week, apparently something new for that family. She was sending kudos to the teachers in his class for the evident impact they were having on her boy. I'm not sure she actually told the teachers in person but I wanted to make sure they knew that they were making a difference.
And that's what it's all about. Who knows- discovering the value of prayer at 2 may shape the spiritual path of that young boy for life. That's life change and that's why we do this. So even if you don't see the evidence of your influence as much as you would like, keep moving forward, knowing that God is honoring your faithfulness. And I'd bet that some day you will be amazed at what God was able to do through you.
