I have been telling Bible stories to preschoolers this week, a duty well outside my comfort zone. I prefer telling Bible stories to adults who at least pretend to be interested in what I am sharing. Kids tend to be pretty honest about their interest level.

We were talking about how God told Abram to go on a journey. To leave his land and go to a place not his own, and how Abram went.

We talked about what a journey is, how it is like a road trip in today's parlance. We talked about what we like to pack when we go on road trips (snacks, stuffies, water, games, toys, blankies) and how it feels to leave home.

The point of the morning was to help the littles understand that just as God was with Abram on his journey, so God is with them on their journey, too. It was a sweet, simple message.

But 25 minutes is a long time to keep kids interested and non-wiggly, so I decided to improvise the last few minutes, grasping for an idea to fill the final moments before I could exhale.

It just came out of my mouth, that first blessing. I looked the first child right in her eyes and called her name and said, "Amara, God is with you on your journey."

Our eyes locked, and a tiny smile formed on her lips. For just a moment, I felt as if I could see her budding soul.

I turned to the next child and did the same thing. I spoke their name, looked them right in the eye and tenderly repeated the blessing: "Patrick, God is with you on your journey." Same result - a sweet grin from the kiddo, and a moment of connection. He felt seen. I felt seen, too.

The room of preschoolers grew quiet. I could feel each child anticipating the moment their name would be called, and the blessing would be spoken over them. They would wiggle a bit as their turn approached, some looked down, others stared right at me, waiting, their eyes twinkling with something that felt like joy.

14 preschoolers, 14 names spoken, 14 blessings given, 14 opportunities for me to feel awe. I told my husband later that as I looked into each child's eyes, I caught a brief glimpse of them as their adult self and I prayed they would remember this moment and the truth of this blessing, that God is, and always will be, with them on their journey. Loving, leading, guiding, blessing --- always.

To be blessed is to be seen.

To be blessed is to have someone speak your name aloud, in love.

To be blessed is to be told that the One who created you is with you no matter where life takes you, no matter how lost you feel, no matter how scared you are.

Three minutes in a church basement felt like pure holiness.

And then our time was up and the spell was broken and they squirmed and jumped and wriggled their way out of my room.

And I smiled.

And I exhaled.

And I rejoiced.