This weekend we went to a park gathering hosted by the church our friends belong to. It was designed as an activity for families, as well as a benefit for a young woman in the community who is seriously ill.
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the event was far better organized and fun than I assumed it would be.
The kids thoroughly enjoyed the Velcro wall and booth games where Craig filled his pockets with candy.
But what struck me was the feeling that this must have all been done before. How else could such a large gathering, with a band, food booth, dunk tank and carnival games result in such a successful turnout?
And then I watched who was doing the work. I knew that while the organizers of the event got together to plan, Darla’s friend babysat their kids. I knew this church family had created a community, where members depended on each other.
But there was another thing. I saw one mother giving out the free tickets for carnival games — her young child at her side. I saw another mother managing a game booth. Her teenage daughter managed the one next to her. I saw a Dad helping kids into the Velcro booth. Craig’s 10-year-old friend stood in line for his turn to get dunked in the dunking booth. I saw Darla’s friend collecting money at the food booth, with her mother next to her – and her married sister sat with her new husband selling raffle tickets.
Of course these events are successful. During the planning, execution and enjoyment of the events, families are doing the work together. They’re learning together. And they’re having fun while they do something wonderful for everyone who attends — in addition to the young woman who’ll benefit from the dollars raised.
What an inspirational system they have for event-planning: Growing a servant’s heart.
What a remarkable way to pass the torch.
Other torch-passers:
Looking Toward Heaven – That’s my girl
We are THAT Family – Who will I be?
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11:27 pm
Awesome post! Its so amazing what we can do as families and a community!
11:41 pm
What a great event, and even better that the families involved their kids. We try to incorporate service into our home too, taking the boys with us when we visit the hospital, as we did today. That’s a wonderful post on growing a servant’s heart.
9:31 am
servant’s heart is certainly the key.
Nothing would happen if we all waited for someone else to do it.
10:54 am
Sounds like y’all had a lot of fun. I haven’t been to a carnival like that in years- makes me want to go throw some darts at balloons!
2:34 pm
That sounds like a place you would want to be, a group you would want to be a part of.
SO nice when people work together instead of competing. 
1:16 am
That sounds like a great event and a fabulous community to belong to. In fact, it sounds like the meaning of community…and that velcro wall looks like a blast!
10:57 am
Those velcro walls look like lots of fun. I’m doing an article on summer brain drain and this looks like one way to help prevent it. It is great when people can work together well. Wether it’s the outcome or act of doing.
Hi Lisa!
2:28 pm
Looks so fun, especially that Velco wall. What a great story about families working together.
6:14 am
That looks like fun! Their expressions say it all. I can’t wait for our local Carnival…
1:39 am
I pray that each of my children grows to have a servants heart.
And there are so many opportunities to reflect it for them, so that they can see me doing the same.
great post.
xo~K