A GCS student broke her thumb in the gaga ball pit last week. It’s not the first broken bone on our elementary school playground, and it’s probably not the last. As I was texting with her mom about the injury, I shared that the gaga ball pit has been a source of great hope and encouragement to me this year. On sunny days when staff drag out and set up the large “pit,” you can be sure to witness diving, chanting, hurling, screaming, children as young as 4 in the throes of enthusiastic competition. When I see them, I let out a sigh, and my spirit is lifted because everything about it seems just as it should be—kids being kids. 

The heavy of this past year has not passed over anyone. Losses small and large abound. Lift Up became our auction focus because of this year in light of the powerful words of Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” 

As believers we have this solid foundation of eternal hope that helps us through hard times. (Brian Fitzgerald talks about maintaining perspective here.) But we also have a Father who delights in giving good gifts to his children! (James 1:17) Watching kids be kids in the gaga pit in a year when many other children are not at school with their friends at all feels like a very good gift to me.

When it comes to the auction, the very good gift I have been blessed to witness two years in a row is the Bid for Cause. If you were with us two years ago, YOU KNOW. It was incredibly moving to watch! Last year when we were forced to go virtual with the auction, once again, we were all blown away as our virtual thermometer hit our goal once again! 

I’m sad that we are not in person this year. I’m even a little worried that we will not hit our goal. But when my perspective is in line with Truth, and my "my hope is built on nothing less", I get excited about the good gifts I know that my Father loves lavishing on His children!

You can find the Bid for Cause page here. >>> Bid for Cause