It’s no secret that Keilee isn’t a huge fan of people. She is very picky with her time and so many times just doesn’t have the patience for ‘teenagers’. Since she is homeschooled she has never had that ‘public school’ mentality. Now I know there are kids in PS without this mentality but most of the ones we know do have it. The things that are important to them are not even of the list of things important to Keilee.
That being said she adores small children. She interacts so well with them and loves being around them. They adore her right back. It’s funny because she honestly says she ‘doesn’t want kids’. I tell her she doesn’t know God’s plan for her yet!
Almost 3 months ago, before church, our pastor’s wife was talking to us and she said to Keilee, “We have got to get you plugged into the children’s church”. Me, being the Momanger I am, told her Keilee did this really cool “1 minute sermon”. Bene said, “you wanna do it now” and Keilee said, “Sure!”. Of course I was freaking out. Bene took her immediately back stage. No practice, no going over it, nothing. It has been at least 2 years since Keilee has done this! She did a great job!!!
After that the leader of our kids church approached Keilee and asked her if she would be interested in being a host on Sundays. What that consists of is learning a script each week and performing on stage at kid’s church. She said YES. So we go to the 9:00 service and then she works the 11:00 service. I decided to help at kid’s check-in because I had to be there anyway. I love seeing her on stage each week.
I love seeing her interaction with the kids. I love seeing them run and almost tackle her each Sunday. We even see them out and about and they call her “Miss Keilee”.
A couple of weeks ago she really stepped out of her comfort zone and did the closing prayer. This is in front of about 100 kids and 15 teens/adults. I just love when Jesus stretches us don’t you?
She is also helping teach a homeschool Science class for K-5 and a homeschool gymnastics class of 3-6 year olds at one of our Recreation Centers. She loves both of these things too. So whenever she says, ‘Mom I’m just not a people person” I just smile. I know she just hasn’t found ‘her’ people yet.
Homeschooling Rocks!
Karen
All Christians are but God’s stewards. Everything we have is on loan from the Lord, entrusted to us for a while to use in serving Him.– John MacArthur
Keilee is inspirational, just like her mama. My 17-year old daughter is much the same. She tries to be friends with girls her own age, but she always ends up spending her time with younger girls because, as she tells me, they are more real. I think it’s great because she is a mentor to these young girls and girls need good mentors in their lives, especially in today’s world.
Karen, you are so wise. I love your very astute point that ‘she just hasn’t found her people yet’ My girls struggle with other teens. They just don’t understand the pack mentality and cool clothes and cliques. They don’t understand that it is deemed uncool to speak with people younger than themselves. They’ll just talk to anyone! My son was the same a couple of years ago until a very wise youth leader suggest he move up a few year groups to be with teens a good four years older and suddenly he has now found his people. The angst it caused for me! I wish I had just sat back and waited because you are right, they will all find their own people eventually.
I had a conversation like this with a friend on the beach during one of our beach nights. Her daughter was the same: an exceptional child, adults love her, bright and creative. Her best friend was shiny and outgoing and bubbly and people gravitated towards her and this sometimes left my friend’s daughter feeling like not much of a people person. She told her “the teen years are hard. You just have to get through them because you will rock your 20s”. This is how I feel about our girls. They may feel they are in someone else’s orbit, or seeking the kind of friendship they just have not found yet, but when they are older and when they are in college, or working, they will meet the people they are seeking and since they don’t have to worry about “finding themselves” they get to skip over so much junk and go right to living the incredible life God has in store for them.
She is just awesome. I know she will find her people someday.
Blessings, Dawn