Devotional: Taking Leadership to Heart

Of course, we started with a Studio C:

This gathers everyone together.  Then we sang a patriotic song chosen by the "child of the day" (Chugger-dude) and said the Pledge of Allegiance.  Relative quiet ensues (baby was hurriedly changed while singing and is now nursing). Time to begin!

"This is the month of love," I began, holding up a bag of discount heart lollipops I had picked up for 45 cents yesterday.  We talked briefly about Valentines Day and then I transitioned.

"Could anyone explain to us the concept of 'Generals and True Love'," I then asked.  Avot raised her hand and then explained the concept (check out the link) that we want generals who know and care about their troops, not ones that see them as a mere number of tools.

"We want people who love, leaders who love.  God wants this same thing for us.  In fact, it is one of the great commandments."

After watching this video, I opened it up to the kids to make remarks about what they noticed about the video and the message.

"So we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, but that leads to an interesting question...what do we think of ourselves?" I paused, letting it sink in.  Then we watched the following:

There was silence as the power of this message sunk in. Again, I asked them for their thoughts, asking probing questions to make them think a little deeper about it, apply it to themselves.

Do we love ourselves? Do we see the value in what we do?

I then shared how the video I posted last night onto youtube covering "our day" already had 147 views...overnight. I shared with them my frustration and disappointment after making my first video, how I didn't like how I looked or sounded.  I shared, "What if that one person who needed my message of yesterday didn't get it because I didn't like my first video?"

I shared the portions of the video where it showed me in my "full glory" of exercise head, no make-up...awesomeness.   I then challenged them to face those things that are holding them back from sharing their own messaged and confront and conquer them, recognizing their glory:

We are the temples of God.

Chugger-dude chose: "As I Have Loved You" to sing and then I prayed.

Turned on the "Reflection Time" music and the kids sat around the table with their reflection books, most of them writing, some just sitting. (Randomly selected: "Take Time To Be Holy" was played.  So many times just the right song emerges during the Reflection Time music!  Love it.)
And then we ate the heart suckers. Perfect.