Weekend Kindness
Reaching Others Through Kindness

This morning I will be taking my oldest son to the doctor.  Some of you know that he has struggled with allergies and we’re still trying to narrow down one of his symptoms.  Today’s test will be three hours of “drink this and wait.”

Parents today can look at their children as a burden—just one more person that they’re responsible for.  Parents are trained to look to others to raise their children—be they grandparents, day care or school.  The thing is, you, as their parent, have the best ability to influence them for good or ill.

If you spend the time that you have together under the same roof apart from each other, getting what you think is important, you may find that you miss the opportunity to connect with your children, to pass on what truly matters and to be a good example to them.

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“I love you.” 

“143.”

“I heart you.”

All different ways to say something that shares your feelings, and yet we need actions to back them up—we need to show our love, and not just say it.  Sure, anyone can say it with flowers or chocolates, but how about saying it with your whole being?

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No phrase in the English language is stronger or bonds two people together more strongly than the words “I Love You”.  The phrase passed on from generation, always with the same meaning, always let you know exactly how the other person feels.

But you can show that you love someone without saying it, and sometimes that vivid illustration can say what words cannot.

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My wife and I have told God that we want Him to work in our lives.  To take us and our family anywhere He pleases.  We have been looking for a house for over two years, and every time we get close, the door closes.  God tells us that it’s not the right time yet.

And yet, on the horizon is something big– something God-sized that is going on, but I’m not quite sure what it all means yet.  Let’s just say that I see the hand of the Lord on my family again, and that He is already at work preparing something for us to do.

How do I know it’s Him?  Part of it is intuition– the intuition that told me to return to my hometown, to join this current church at this time, and that told me who to marry.  Part of it is circumstance– I couldn’t begin to detail all that I’ve seen and that I’m seeing at work.  Maybe as it comes closer to fulfillment I can talk about all the marvelous ways I’m seeing Him at work.

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Praise God that He always has a plan. One year after we had joined our new church home, our church went through a time of trouble.  Just as I had been asked to be a deacon, circumstances came to bear that left us without a Pastor and some of the key pillars of the church when I had joined.

Very quickly I went from the new deacon to the deacon’s spokesman to the Deacon Chairman.  My understanding of Biblical passages and my untaintedness meant that I was the logical choice in a polarized atmosphere.  I also ended up being the Pulpit Committee Chairman in a rather uncomfortable twist of events.

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The problem with attempting to go home and “change the world” is that a lot of what you can do is perception.  To most of the people in my hometown and my home church I was the little boy that grew up at their knee.  This meant that I had to jump through extra hurdles to get things done.  However, I did it.

I was a sound technician, I had my own choir, I was teaching Kindergarten Sunday School, all the while I was chatting on AIM at home.  I was forming friendships across the country.  At least once a night I was sharing the Gospel with a stranger.  I was flying all over the country with my job, making friends, witnessing on airplanes, and seeing God’s hand of protection and provision.

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When I chose to attend Bob Jones University I wasn’t sure that it was right for me.  I did not agree with Calvanistic Doctrine.  I did not like some of the rules that were put upon the students.  And I had been the homebody that didn’t go off to Boy’s State like his brother.

However, I blended right in.  I was able to become pseudo-popular… Popular in my own circles.

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