Think about the last time someone interrupted your day with a surprise.
Not a scheduled birthday dinner. Not a calendar invite. I’m talking about an out-of-the-blue text message that said, “Hey, I saw this and thought of you,” or finding a handwritten card left randomly on your desk.
Why do those tiny moments stick with us for years? Because they prove that we are on someone’s mind even when we aren’t on their schedule.
Over the last two weeks, we’ve nailed down the baseline of the first Lead Small principle: Show Up Predictably and Show Up Mentally. That weekly rhythm is how we build the foundation of trust. Once you start showing up predictably, your few will begin to expect it. That is exactly what we want.
But what if, on occasion, you surprised them? What if you showed up at a time and place they weren’t expecting?
I remember back in 2020, in the midst of COVID, I got to listen to a fascinating story from one of our HS junior girls. I asked her about the absolute best thing her small group leader ever did…which, by the way, she had the same leader since 4th Grade. Out of all the elaborate weekend programs and perfectly crafted moments, her answer was incredibly simple. Back in fifth grade, she casually mentioned in her group that she was nervous about an upcoming test. The night before the test, her leader called just to tell her she was thinking about her and thought she would do great.
Years later, she still described that one little phone call as the “best thing” her leader ever did.
That is why we can never underestimate the power of showing up randomly. It might be a birthday card, a text message to a parent, attending a child’s basketball game, or sending a postcard about a moment on a weekend.
These small connections may seem completely insignificant in the moment. But when you choose to be present in an unexpected way, outside of your weekly group time, you reinforce your kids’ connection to the community you are creating.
Predictability tells an elementary kid, “You can count on me here.” Randomness tells them, “You matter to me everywhere.”
When you combine predictable presence with random acts of care, your students will begin to trust, they will begin to open up, and they will root themselves deeply in community.
You can’t be present for everyone. But you can be present for a few. Let’s come ready to talk this weekend about how we can start catching our kids by surprise.