Seasons of Life  

by Laurie Templeton

As all communities of faith do, we have many seasons of life here at Impact.  We have the hot, rainy, event-driven summer, the empty nest of August and September when all of the children and college interns have returned to school, the holiday season full of parties, Christmas gifts, and New Year dreams. Then, Spring is right around the corner packed with Garage Sale, ideological college students on break, and cook-outs in the projects; and once again we begin another hot, crazy summer with 400 children, college interns, and so on.  We spend a lot of energy and time raising money for the summer, recruiting interns, and making sure we have enough safe vehicles to pick up the children once June begins, but Impact is not just about the summer.  A former college intern who now lives in Houston told me recently that he enjoys this regular season of Impact so much more than the summer season.  There is time to get to know one another, dream together, and learn together.  I love the summer, but what motivates me toward summer and all of its events, people, and fatigue are the seasons before it begins, when I am able to sit at the feet of people that love the Lord and teach me how to love others.  One particular person that has consistently affected myself and many others in this way is Suzannah Gabriel.   

Suzannah, or Miss Suzy as our children at Impact know her, is not a seasonal worker at Impact.  She is here during the summer teaching children how to read, she is busy buying presents at Christmas for Impact families, and she tutors one family of children year round.  She has become a mentor to myself and others, and she is not afraid to hold us accountable.  Suzannah has walked into the fire many times during her involvement with Impact and her example of walking with children through reading disabilities, abuse, and neglect impresses upon me the importance of seasons of life.  Miss Suzy recently moved to San Antonio, but she continues to drive back to Houston every weekend to tutor her Impact children and she will be here for another Impact summer, but I know that this season will probably end at some point.

During this season of refreshment and sacrifice, may we all live out the gospel fully and sit at the feet of people to listen and learn.  I pray that your community of faith has many Miss Suzy’s that are living their lives to worship the Lord through serving children.  As we all gear up for the summer in our different parts of the world, may the Lord bless this season of reflection and restoration so that we become year round laborers in His kingdom throughout our seasons of life.