A month has passed already, since I spent a Monday morning kicking myself (figuratively) for not taking an opportunity to express my undying gratitude to someone who shouldn't have to wait for the "right opportunity" to hear a simple thank you. This update is way overdue... possibly 20 or so years overdue!
The Sunday night before was one of the most significant and special evenings of my entire life. I had the privilege of Baptizing not only six of the young people I had walked a road with for the best part of a year, but also my nephew, Dillon and of course the women who taught me to love, my incredibly special mother! As I stood in this unfamiliar environment, the baptistery, tongue tied with nerves dissolving like the bubbles around me, and looking out to a congregation witnessing the life changing testimonies of children and friends, I felt I needed to acknowledge this capstone in my life. Whether it was through divine intervention or nerves combined with a frayed memory, I didn't say what I would've liked to say:
"This unbelievably resilient yet humble, strong yet gentle women, mom, is the one who has taught me to love! Through her example of grace, she has taught me the gift of giving selflessly, without expecting love in return, she has allowed me to find within myself, the potential to care for others, sometimes to the point of self detriment, she has been an example of patience and faith in the power of love to transform. She has shown me through her love that she is born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7), and she has shown us that the source of love is never ending, never depleted! She has allowed me to express myself honestly, sensitively and without reservation. She has allowed me to on occasion reciprocate her love with a lack of gratitude and recognition to the point of cruelty yet never seeking retribution for the hurt. She has taught me to cry unashamedly, tears that express deep pain or elation. It is because of her, that those few, yet not enough have received my love and selfless acts of service.
For those who are still young, the bible commands, honour your mother and father. Love them despite their faults because God knows they have their faults, obey them despite their apparent unreasonable, "irrational" restrictions because those they issue out of love too. Lastly, don't wait until you are 34 or for an opportune moment to say thank you, do it now! They try to love unconditionally, the least you can do is learn from them, the potential you have in yourself to do the same.
To those parents, the greatest gift you can give a child is to love first and foremost the Lord with all your heart and outward expression through worship & secondly, love your spouse in an outward demonstration of selflessness and sacrifice, without which, a teenager will never recognise the true definition of love, grace and selflessness. We live in a world where youngsters believe that love is what others can do for us, anything other than that is considered weakness, it's time they know the truth, true power, true liberation and freedom is recognising that love is what we can do for others.
Mom, thank you for teaching us (all your children) how to love!
Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts
Monday, March 02, 2009
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Gospels in Today's World
Have you ever wondered what it must've been like for Jesus and His disciples to travel from town to town ministering as they went along? We all read accounts of Jesus' ministry in the four gospels and most who have an imagination have a mental picture in their mind of what it must have looked like and felt like.
I had the incredible opportunity of being there, in the flesh... well, as close to as I think one could ever come on this earth today. I found myself on dusty streets, in a small village on the Eastern Escarpment of the Great Rift Valley looking towards Lake Malawi in the distance, dotted with fishing boats. Wherever we walked, (because that's how one gets around), we were followed by inquisitive children, their faces animated with grins and sometimes fear as I pointed the camera in their direction.
We sat on mud plastered "patios" of small thatch houses and read accounts of Jesus' life and His character. People literally appeared in the hundreds almost as if from nowhere to join us.
Ladies sat on their sarongs or simply in the dirt and listened to what the "Baba" (a distinguished man) with us had to say about this Son of God. Men chatted at the back amongst themselves inquiring as to these people's intentions, children forced their way to the front to prove to each other, they could get closer and mothers nursed content babies while they listened.
It wasn't as much what he spoke about, as much as it was the acts of service and love that had attracted these people's attention in the first place that captivated me in a different place, in a different era. It was the eagerness of people to hear what had to be said by Christ like characters who had earned respect over many years by providing practically for people's needs, just like Jesus himself did. It was the hospitality that people showed us, just as they must have shown to Jesus and His disciples. It was the smiles on people's faces despite their conditions because of the hope that was represented! It was the kids who didn't have a care in the world but to get closer to these strangers in their simple yet familiar world just to listen to stories.
As the sun set over the lake, I prayed and thanked Jesus for taking me back to a time where He walked and talked among people, where he sweated in the heat and became hungry after a long day and sought rest for his tired body and I thanked Him for the hope that he brought to so many in this small village, 2000 years later.
I had the incredible opportunity of being there, in the flesh... well, as close to as I think one could ever come on this earth today. I found myself on dusty streets, in a small village on the Eastern Escarpment of the Great Rift Valley looking towards Lake Malawi in the distance, dotted with fishing boats. Wherever we walked, (because that's how one gets around), we were followed by inquisitive children, their faces animated with grins and sometimes fear as I pointed the camera in their direction.
We sat on mud plastered "patios" of small thatch houses and read accounts of Jesus' life and His character. People literally appeared in the hundreds almost as if from nowhere to join us.
Ladies sat on their sarongs or simply in the dirt and listened to what the "Baba" (a distinguished man) with us had to say about this Son of God. Men chatted at the back amongst themselves inquiring as to these people's intentions, children forced their way to the front to prove to each other, they could get closer and mothers nursed content babies while they listened.
It wasn't as much what he spoke about, as much as it was the acts of service and love that had attracted these people's attention in the first place that captivated me in a different place, in a different era. It was the eagerness of people to hear what had to be said by Christ like characters who had earned respect over many years by providing practically for people's needs, just like Jesus himself did. It was the hospitality that people showed us, just as they must have shown to Jesus and His disciples. It was the smiles on people's faces despite their conditions because of the hope that was represented! It was the kids who didn't have a care in the world but to get closer to these strangers in their simple yet familiar world just to listen to stories.
As the sun set over the lake, I prayed and thanked Jesus for taking me back to a time where He walked and talked among people, where he sweated in the heat and became hungry after a long day and sought rest for his tired body and I thanked Him for the hope that he brought to so many in this small village, 2000 years later.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Kids = Energy!!
Last week I had the privilege of once again, for possibly the 17th time in my life, participating in the Waterkloof Baptist Holiday Club. My name for the week... Capt. Jack Sparrow, original I know, but the kids caught on quickly and I was a good pirate at that! 
There is too much to relate in terms of what a learning and growth experience it was again, even after all these years. One thing for sure though, kids energise us. They are not what sap our energy but they are the source of our energy. I felt more alive after dancing around a stage, jumping up and down like a hooligan, and generally acting like a twelve year old again than I have felt in a long time, and as most of you know, that is very much alive!!
There should be a time in all of our lives where we find the child in ourselves again, no matter how professional the profile you hold in "the real world", no matter how adult you feel, no matter what responsibility you carry, no matter how brittle your bones, there is a child in each of us and re-discovering it is the most liberating experience of all!
Something else I learnt is that service is not something we choose, it is not optional, that is if you're living the life Christ created you to live. We were beings created in his image, created to serve! Unless we are serving others in this life, we are not going to be fulfilled.
So, if you're feeling empty, low or purposeless, serve, serve, serve!! It'll change your life!! Christ said, "I did not come to be served but to serve", too many of us say "I am here to be served...” What can I say to that?? Your loss! Remember, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me." Matt 25:40
God Bless you all as you find the inner child within you and are energized by it, and as you continue to serve wherever you see opportunity!
There is too much to relate in terms of what a learning and growth experience it was again, even after all these years. One thing for sure though, kids energise us. They are not what sap our energy but they are the source of our energy. I felt more alive after dancing around a stage, jumping up and down like a hooligan, and generally acting like a twelve year old again than I have felt in a long time, and as most of you know, that is very much alive!!
There should be a time in all of our lives where we find the child in ourselves again, no matter how professional the profile you hold in "the real world", no matter how adult you feel, no matter what responsibility you carry, no matter how brittle your bones, there is a child in each of us and re-discovering it is the most liberating experience of all!Something else I learnt is that service is not something we choose, it is not optional, that is if you're living the life Christ created you to live. We were beings created in his image, created to serve! Unless we are serving others in this life, we are not going to be fulfilled.
So, if you're feeling empty, low or purposeless, serve, serve, serve!! It'll change your life!! Christ said, "I did not come to be served but to serve", too many of us say "I am here to be served...” What can I say to that?? Your loss! Remember, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me." Matt 25:40God Bless you all as you find the inner child within you and are energized by it, and as you continue to serve wherever you see opportunity!
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