Remember the catchy Kenny Rogers song, “Know When to Hold ‘Em, Know When to Fold ‘Em?” (I’m sure you’re humming it right now.) There’s a lot of truth in that song and I’m smart enough to know when to fold ’em.

Come January, after a life-time of hanging with elementary kids in children’s church, I indeed am going to “fold ’em.” Kids will still be a major part of my life but that one particular ministry in my life will fold. It’s time.

And it’s okay that it’s time cuz’ I’ll be almost 70 years old by then. To be honest, my get up and go doesn’t want to, well, get up and go like it used to. Mike and I will still do preschool children’s church once a month and I’ll be part of the Wednesday night community outreach. I’ll also go to my fair share of teen and kids camps.

But come January…it will be strange to sit in church on the fourth Sunday of the month and not go to elementary children’s church. That also means I’ll pass along the B.G.M.C. ministry (children’s mission program) to a younger whipper-snapper. I’ll miss the kiddos but it’s been a good run.

I thank my heavenly Father for the wonderful privilege I’ve had to speak into the lives of children and tell them about Jesus. I’ve been at it so long that some of my earlier students are now grandparents. How cool it that? Totally cool, if you ask me.