Friday, June 22, 2012

As Life Moves On...

Lately I've been witness to a lot of parents readying for the graduation of their children. Be it high school, middle school, kindergarten, pre K, or whatever they're facing, all of them are brimming with pride. It's a beautiful thing to see. The hard work of not only the kids', but the parents' work coming to fruition.

What I take away from all of that is this: no matter what stage of life you're in, there is pride and joy in each step. The realities not only of parents, but of people like myself who aren't parents, can be a source of encouragement and joy to us as we walk through them in faith. I'm sure if I was to delve into discussions with these people on the mountains moved in order to get to where they are now, they'd have stories that I would be taken back to realize. I'd like to know - and it would take some research - the biggest hurdles that each of us have faced, and overcome, in order to be where we are now. I think obviously the hurdles would vary greatly in each of us. Seniors in high school might reach back in their minds of the struggles with bullying, or the strain of passing each year in school. Perhaps even the boundaries placed in their lives for their own good... as we all know, the youth know it all, so the boundaries are all unnecessary... but have built them into the strong willed people they are now. Maybe a kindergartener would think for a moment, only to say they made a friend out of someone who they used to dislike... but then, that might be way too cerebral for a kindergartener. I wonder what my friends who have graduating children would say... would the hurdles be a distant gray mist in their minds on a day like graduation day? Would the issues of rearing a quality child outweigh the joy of the moment where that child walked head on into the next stage of life? I hear women say that childbirth is such an awful struggle, but the moment that child is placed into their arms, the pain disappears from memory. I wonder if it's like that with a stage of life like graduation, or a first grandchild, or of any other stage that comes along. I suspect that the people I know who are in tears over this graduation day may say yes, all of these things bring so much joy, that everything hard along the way pales in comparison.

We can all have a life of joyous new beginnings. Being a non-parent, I tend to see things more broadly, and have a different perspective than that of the parent who is in the midst of turmoil regarding a child. Life for me is a broad road - one that has so many facets, trials and turns, and I reflect heavily on each of them. I think and dwell many hours on things that are big picture - long term - what will become of this or that... what will happen if this or that should occur... it can be overwhelming. But, I know my life is so much easier in ways than that of people who have chosen to be parents. In some instances, it isn't, but in others, it really is.

In any case, what my take away from this is, we all have stages of life that we face. Some are joyous, and some are heart wrenching. Life has its trials, and each of us have to face them head on. Some go ahead timidly, and others go boldly. I tend to be timid in times of change and trial. I also tend to over think things to a fault. What I know is that I'm in the midst of a life change made by God. He's placed me into a life that forces me to face the life HE wants from me. I haven't ever seen my life as being 'for His glory.' That's what life is for me as a Christian. It isn't about what I want out of life, but what will glorify Him. I know I'm doing my best to glorify Him in my life right now. I never have before, and I realize that. What I need to be is Christ to those I meet. I may be the only part of Christ these people ever see, and I need to be the best representation I can be. It's hard, I'm not saying it's anything but hard... but it's worth it. He has a plan for me. Plans to profit me, and not to break me down. Plans for a hope and a future.  I strive for that... because I know my best life will occur as a result.

I recently went through a car wash, and the attendant who wiped my car down was a sweet faced youth, probably in high school. I always try to give them a little tip, but that day I only had a $20. I thought twice about giving up twenty bucks for someone to wipe down my car. I saw his face, and his faithfulness in his work. He smiled at everyone, and did his job to the best of his ability. I handed over that twenty dollar bill, simply because sometimes doing things like that can change someone's life, or at least their perspective on others. Why not change someone's perspective? It's worth it, and I pray that he was blessed by that. I try to do that more often, because in doing things like that, I not only bless someone I may never see again, but I too am blessed by being a source of God's love. Afterward I always pray for the Lord to be real in that person's life, and for them to find God.

Be your best. Be your best to your children and to the people you meet in life. Your children will take that away from their lives in your care. Don't feel badly if you struggle - we all do. Just be your best, and remember who you're teaching to be the best they can be in the middle of it all. For by being that to a stranger, we may be entertaining angels unaware...