By: Carissa Lovvorn
Fresh air, sunshine, flowers, Bible lesson, and tutus — elements that make up a great service project for little girls. On October 19, Tutus on a Mission participants, along with one sweet little brother, met at Athens Big Spring Park for our second community service project. Their mission was to plant seasonal flowers in a small flower bed for all park goers to enjoy, and their lesson was to learn about shining their small lights in large places.
Giggles filled the air as the tutu wearing girls and curly headed little boy made holes in the dirt. The children took turns planting fall flowers and filling the watering cans to ensure their project would survive the upcoming dry days. There was a moment during the project where I found myself working beside one of the younger girls. After giving her several compliments about how nice of a job she was doing, she suddenly stopped, looked at me with such joy in her eyes, and said in an enthusiastic, childlike voice, “I was so excited to come here today! I’ve been counting down the days since Mommy told us!”
Naturally, there were a few tears of happiness that welled within my eyes as I realized that these events are making a difference in the lives of the participants. Later that day, I thought about how this little girl’s excitement and anticipation of this simple project was a wonderful model for how we should view our return to our heavenly home.
The Bible contains several verses regarding the eagerness that we should experience here on Earth. In his letter to the church in Philippi, Apostle Paul reminds us that, “…our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20 NIV) Later, in his letter to the Christians in Colossae, he encouraged Jesus’ followers saying, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)
While we should be filled with excitement about what lies ahead, it is amazing to think that our human minds can’t even fathom what joy, peace, and wonders lie ahead. “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived — the things God has prepared for those who love him.” (1Corinthians 2:9)
That little girl’s profound excitement made an impression that I will carry with me for years to come. At the close of our Tutus on a Mission service project, a smile spread across every child’s face as they stepped back and proudly admired their work. The rows may have been a little crooked and the colors not exactly as uniform as I had originally planned, but it was beautiful.
I hope that when I finally reach Heaven, I’ll be able to look back at my own life and see the crooked rows with disorganized colors, but also see the beauty in the journey. Until then, I will eagerly and excitedly wait to join our Savior in Paradise.
Many blessings,
Carissa Lovvorn
December 6, 2024
