Two Saturdays ago was Disney’s Night of Joy. This is a night when several of the biggest names in contemporary Christian music come to Disney World to showcase their songs to thousands of teens and children. Branches South Miami took 11 of our youth to see several of the concerts, as well as ride some of the rides. This night was extremely special to me. I was able to listen to a Christian rapper by the name of LeCrae. We took several of our kids to hear him. In between all of his songs he basically gave a mini-sermon. There were two messages that really hit home for me. The first one was something he said that went along the lines of this; “to all the teachers, youth ministers, or anyone who works with kids. Just have faith that the work you’re doing is not in vain. I was a knucklehead once, doing all the wrong things. I had several people who kept on me, and kept working with me. So just know that you may never see the fruits of your labor, but that somewhere along the line, you may touch a young person’s life, and they will never be the same.” Boy, was that a message especially for me! I have been struggling the past month since I’ve been here. I work with some rough kids! They often talk back to me, get an attitude with me, and in general just misbehave. And sometimes I think, “are they ever going to get the message?” It was a great reminder that I may never see if I’ve touched a kid’s life. I may never see the impact that I have made in a child’s life, but if I keep working with them, and loving them, maybe one day they will see how important it is to behave, and respect others, and live as Jesus taught us.
While some of the kids could’ve cared less about the concert or what LeCrae had to say, others loved him. One of the kids was so into it, that he asked if he could move up to the front of the crowd to see him and listen to him. I was so touched that some of the kids were actually listening to his message. And what a great example LeCrae was to these kids. He claimed that he was never perfect, and that he had done some really horrible things in his life, but through God, he changed his life, and actually started living a life that was centered around Jesus. It was a great example for the kids to see that no one is perfect, but that God has a power to transform our lives for the better.
The second message that really hit home for me was the message about our image through the eyes of God. LeCrae said that women especially struggle with the idea of our image. Everyone of course struggles with their image, but he was especially speaking to the women in the crowd. He said that a lot of times, our culture focuses solely on how we look, and what kind of car we drive, and what kinds of expensive things we buy. But he reminded us that all of that stuff does not matter to God. It doesn’t matter whether you are a size two or twelve, God does not care! God cares about what is on the inside, and what kind of heart you possess.
Most of the time I try not to worry about what size I am. But that is extremely difficult when all of the images that we see around us, are of women who are extremely too thin and sick-looking. Or when the “plus size models” are considered to be sizes six and eight. How can a woman not feel the pressure to be thin and beautiful? But LeCrae reminded me that I don’t need to be concerned with these worldly things. Being a certain size is not what God cares about. God cares about the way we treat each other, and the way we live our lives as Christians. God thinks each and everyone of us is beautiful no matter what size we are, or how we look, or what kinds of material things we have. I am beautiful in the eyes of God! How refreshing is that?
Overall, it was a wonderful day to be at Disney, to enjoy the rides, and the music. I can only hope that some of the kids received God’s message, and that someday their lives can be transformed for the better.
If you have not checked out LeCrae, please do. If all rap was like his, the world would be a different place.
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