Mediation:
It’s All Backwards!
In life I fill roles that bring along the expectation that I should be teaching, nurturing, and encouraging those around me. I’m the husband, the “man of the house”, the “spiritual leader”. I’m the dad, the parent. I’m the Sunday school teacher.
Yet in all these roles in my life, it flip flops and I become the student, I am the one being strengthened, challenged and encouraged. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for my wife and kids. Time and time again God has used each of them to teach me of His character and love, about prayer, grace and forgiveness.
To share a recent example of the “turn of tables”, this fall I have been teaching in the nursery class on Sundays. People ask, how can you teach a zero year old about God, they are just babies. Maybe you can’t teach a zero year old, but they sure can teach and encourage a 45 year old. You find this out when you are sitting face to face, only inches apart, then they laugh, they smile, they giggle or ramble in “baby talk”. They communicate without words. Their expressions, their noises, their looks touch my heart and they show me the power, love and goodness of our heavenly father.
Some of the smallest/youngest members of our church family make an impact on me. Little ones like Michaela, Brock, Jenna, Wilson, Brayden, Lauren and Quinn. They don’t care if I sing a song off key or mess up the words. They just laugh and smile (usually). They share a twinkle in their eye and a look that can melt your heart.
Those who have children (little ones, grade schoolers, middle schoolers, high schoolers, and young adults), I encourage you to soak it all in, take the time to sit back, watch and learn.
Whatever part you have in the family here, you can always love, teach and encourage whether you’re the oldest or the youngest, whether you’re a guy or gal. God can use anyone in any situation.
Do you ever feel it’s all backwards? I thank God it is!
I wonder who will be teaching me next……
Matt. 18:1-6 & Psalms 127:3-5
-Kevin Monsees
Prayer: Father, we have so much to learn. Our pride so often keeps us from learning the great lessons we need. Help us to humble ourselves to you. Help us to learn that it is often in the weakest, smallest, most insignificant (as we tend to measure things), that you use to show us the strongest, greatest, and most important truths of life. Help us to open our hearts and minds to you.
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