Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and trust the Lord as they do. (Hebrews 13:7 NLT)
Maybe it's all the transition in my life or maybe it is just a series of similar articles that have ended up in my In Box, but I'm having a wave of reminiscence sweep over me. God has blessed me with many wonderful memories of people who have touched, fashioned, shaped, influenced, corrected, nudged, motivated, and blessed my life in the Lord.
There may be some "self-made" successes in the world. My experience is different than that. Everyone I know who has done something of significance in life has done so because of the help of others. I'm guessing that is true in your life as well.
God has been very gracious to me. He has blessed me with friends, mentors, family members, partners, fellow staff workers, and volunteers who have blessed me immensely and shaped me significantly. I have often wondered where I would be without them. The answer is not hard to imagine — I would be nowhere.
We live in a time where the voyeuristic side of our base nature has turned so much of our interest toward the ugly side of life. We seldom hear the motivating stories of parents and grandparents who blessed and inspired their descendants to greatness. Instead, children and grandchildren go on TV and talk about all the horrible ways their relatives have marred and destroyed their lives. These chair-throwing tantrums (some real and some metaphorical) become an opiate that entertains the prurient side of our nature. It also robs us of whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable and leaves us with nothing of excellence and little that is worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8 NRSV)
So this week, I want to challenge us to three honorable commitments. First, do not tolerate conversation that trashes another human being — not in politics, not on television, not in conversation, and not in print. Shut it off, walk away, or put it down. Second, give thanks each day for someone who has shaped your life for good and God. If still possible, send them a thank you note that lets them know how much they have meant to you. Let's give some bouquets to those who have blessed us before they are gone! Third, find ways to share the stories of those who have blessed you. Our world needs to hear good news about real people who have been blessings. Eulogies — good words about good people — need to be spoken in daily conversation today even more than they need to be spoken at funerals.
Let's remember the good folks, the godly folks, who have blessed and enriched our lives. Let's do more than remember ... let's look at their good influence and live for the Lord as they did!
