The Wheels on the Bus

The adventure started four years ago when I was called to stay at home with my youngest son, Jamsion, before he started Kindergarten. I had been working full time at the high school as the registrar and loved my job and being on the kids' schedules. However, God was definitely calling me to stay at home. But I had a dilemma, our family lived outside of the school district that our boys were attending and the only way to keep my oldest in school there was to work in the district. So after much prayer, we decided I would drive a school bus in the afternoons so that our children could still attend school there. I know, I know, most people wonder, "Why don't you just move"? Well that is a whole other story in itself. Let's just say that God has placed us in a wonderful place and we are exactly where we are supposed to be.

This is where the story begins. I left my registrar job the summer of 2007 and got my CDL to drive the bus. I was SO nervous and not very excited about my new adventure. How could God possibly want me to drive a bus?! This was not MY plan for MY life! But little did I know that four years later, I would be sharing Jesus with the kids on my bus. It has taken me this long to realize God's greater plan and to set aside my feelings toward driving the "yellow dog". I have hated this job since day one and never had any intention of driving more than one year.

The first year was literally what I considered to be Hell. How could it be any worse? Fifty kids in my care with filthy mouths, obscene gestures, stories of ungodliness at home, fighting, spitting and any other unnecessary evil you can think of! What had I done?! I prayed everyday for God to get me through each route and each and everyday He did. I have shed tears, sweat like a dog and even contracted head lice!! Yes, I said it, LICE! This experience had definitely reached it's all time low! "God what are you doing?" I would say. "Why am I doing this Lord and how can I ever do work for you on this bus Lord?" was my everyday prayer.

As the days, turned into weeks and weeks into months, before I knew it the months turned into four years. I still had not done anything for the Lord, except to complain about poor pitiful me. It was always about me and never about the Lord. Well, after four years of prayer and trying to come up with some way to reach these kids, the Lord finally gave me an idea through my wonderful husband. He said, "write John 3:16 on your mirror with a dry erase marker". "Brilliant", I thought! So simple! But, I had my doubts. Who would care if I had John 3:16 on my mirror and who would ever say anything about it?

This simple idea for this simple girl living a simple life is exactly what I needed! God doesn't expect us to use technology, glitz and glamor to shine His light. He just wants us to keep it simple and share His love. Even if it is one verse at at time. God is faithful and has shown me to never give up. After four years of prayer, He has finally given me an open door to sharing my faith with fifty kids that need my love. He has totally changed my perspective of the "yellow dog" and what it means to be a bus driver.

Tune in next week to find out what happened on week one of Bible on the Bus!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4