It wasn't long before I realized that I would need to learn and then teach. And not only that, sometimes I would learn right along with them. It still happens even today. There is so much that I am learning and so much I have yet to learn. Yes, I am a mother of eight. Yes, I am a pastor's wife. But I am still learning. Every.single.day.
Not all learning is filling your head with knowledge, although that is part of it. Much of what we need to learn is in the lived out moments that we experience every day. Sometimes we feel a measure of success as we evaluate our progress in living out our faith. I have written many times about such things here on this blog. But there is also the very real, nitty gritty, hard stuff that we don't really like to talk about. The areas where we know we lack yet we feel as though we should be beyond it by now. But you know what? There is grace. I am so thankful for grace when it comes to my shortcomings. Without it, I would be completely undone.
You see, when I read in John 13 of my Lord Jesus tying a towel around his waist to wash the dirty feet of those who would forsake, deny and betray...I see my shortcomings bold and plain. What kind of servant am I, if I love only those who love me? What kind of servant am I, if I pick and choose whom I will be gracious to and purposefully avoid some? What kind of servant am I, if I do not freely give as even I have been freely given to? I am keenly aware of my need to grow as a servant. Not only to be like my Lord but I am also learning from the example of others in the family of God.
Can I tell you what this family has shown me? I have seen people who are very concerned about what needs there are and they seek to meet them with the resources that God has provided. People who take time out of their personal schedule to help someone else. People who are inconvenienced so that someone else can benefit. I have seen sacrifices of time, money, and the choice to love in difficult situations. I have been blessed to the point of tears by how loving and caring this church family is.
And you know what? They are teaching me too. How can a person not be taught by someone who offers to help and is willing to do whatever they can with the hands and the strength that God has given them? How can a person not be taught by someone who drops by to bring you something special and brighten your day? How can you not be taught by a mom who is very busy with her own kids yet she brings you a meal? How can you not be taught something of the precious beauty of sacrificial giving when a woman places a gift in your pocket and tears are in her eyes. And it's not long before tears well up in yours because you know that it is the Spirit of God that prompts such giving. And in every instance it is the hands being used of God to reach out to someone else. To meet needs, to bless, and as I am realizing, to teach.
Have you ever learned from the example of someone else? How is your life teaching others to be more like Jesus?
I am learning by my husband's example... in many ways.
ReplyDeleteIn our first months of marriage I noticed whenever we went to the grocery store he would tidy up the store as we shopped - turning around a box of cereal that was backwards on the shelf or picking up an item that fallen to the floor. I was amazed that he was there to give, while I had the attitude I was there to get. He is still a giving person, 27 years later.
Sharon, the example you shared makes me think of simply giving of ourselves in whatever way we can and without any thought toward getting anything back. Sometimes we might think "Why should I do it? It's someone else's job. Let them take care of it." Instead, we should have the mind of Christ and seek to serve. I keep thinking of something Elizabeth George said in the book I'm reading. A motto she has is "Go to give." That is the attitude I would like to consistently have in everything I do. Thanks for commenting, it was good to hear from you Sharon!
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