Lollipops and Legacies

My church buys countless lollipops to hand out to kids [and the occasional adult] after services. My friend David was the church's "Lollipop Man."

I've known David for over 20 years. First at another church. At that church Dave was one of the only male children's workers. He worked with them since he was a teenager. After I left that church, I "church hopped" for awhile. I finally found Seacoast

Within a week or two of starting there God spoke to my heart and told me to go back to the church I grew up in and get Dave. I discovered he wasn't happy there anymore so he started coming to Seacoast with me. He joined and within a few months he started in the children's ministry. He had to drop out for a short time but then he started again. This time he didn't' stop. . He worked at our church in the maintenance dept. He was so committed to the children's ministry that he even took his annual vacation time to do Vacation Bible School.

Dave loved kids and kids loved him. He found his place giving of his time and of himself. Over the 20 plus years that I knew him, he'd often say that he understood that we have awards awaiting us on the other side of Paradise. He would tell me that he'd be happy with just a one room shack. I agree that a one room shack in Heaven will be better than anything here.

David did go to Heaven about a week ago. I've been thinking about that lately. I think he has more than a "one room shack" he had hoped for. I began to imagine what if every child he was with was a room in that mansion. What if every parent was a room because they were able to come to a church where their child was in good hands. What if every lollipop was a room?

I won't go into the math here but a rough estimate is that his mansion would probably have over a million rooms.

What about you? David's legacy can be symbolized by handing out lollipops to kids. Because he took joy in taking the time to remember that kids matter too, he'll have a special place.

Are you handing out a legacy? I don't care if you work with children like he did or if you work with senior citizens, adults, teens, animals...whatever you are lead to work with.

Just remember, whatever your "lollipop" is...it is a legacy so please treat it as such.