The Kids on the Sidelines: Where I Saw God Work Most
Before coming to Canada to work for a year with TCM, I didn’t have many expectations. I simply told myself, “Let’s see what’s going to happen.” Still, there was one hope I held onto: I didn’t want to just be a visitor. I wanted to leave a real, visible impact on the lives of people I would meet in Canada. In my mind, that meant doing something practical–something people could clearly see.
However, once I started working with TCM, I noticed that the difference I could make was not always noticeable to the eye. At each of the sites, I noticed some kids didn’t quite fit in. They often played alone or struggled to connect with others. I felt especially drawn to them and wanted to show up for the kids on the sidelines.
Two kids in particular stood out to me. They are often alone, so I joined each of them in whatever they were doing. I couldn’t fully understand what they were saying, since they had just started grade one, but I tried to have conversations with them. I learned that I didn’t always need to have the right words. What mattered was simply being present with them consistently. Simple actions like sitting next to them, playing the same game over and over, or just listening, helped them feel safer and less lonely in the group.
Looking back, I’ve learned that making an impact doesn’t always look dramatic or obvious. I used to think an impact has to be big and noticeable, but now I understand that faithfulness often looks like small, quiet acts of love. It can mean showing up, listening, and being present even when nothing dramatic happens.
For the past year, I’ve learned that God often works in ways we don’t immediately see. As it says in 1 Samuel 16:7,
“The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
I believe that God saw those small moments and that He will continue working in the kids’ hearts long after I’m gone.