One day, one of our girls started correcting her sister saying “Stop it. Stop it right now.” The tone of voice and the vocabulary sounded way too familiar, until it dawned on me that she was mirroring what I would say to them when those moments come in parenting where the only thing left in you is to say “STOP IT!”
Do we live our lives in the awareness of the truth that we have an audience? This should not put pressure on us in trying to become better actors. Simply, it should motivate us to get our ducks in a row, spiritually.
How we live in front of the audience of one, will impact how we dwell among the audience of many.
Setting an example for the audience of Many
Be vulnerable. It gives hope to others. Your pain, and your mistakes may give hope and encouragement to others. We often share with our girls the struggles we go through. It gives them hope to see that they are not the only ones messing up. We all fight against ‘the flesh’.
As much as we need to open up with the children God put into our life, we need to do the same among us grown ups. Let’s go beyond the habitual conversation:
-How are you?
-I’m fine, thank you. And you?
-I’m fine, thank you. And you? Oh, sorry I asked that already. So, you are ok. Hmm.. Great!!
-So nice catching up.
Let’s toss some authenticity into our relationships. Let’s share and learn from each other. I’m not saying to throw ‘pearls before swine’, but we need to look for those relationships where there’s the potential for more than superficiality, or mere politeness, and we need to make time for them. (When you stay in line at the post office and a stranger passingly says “How’ you doing’?” Yeah, that’s not an invitation to spill your guts.)
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Encourage. It brings joy to others. When people see you, let them be encouraged in your presence. Let Christ’s joy in you be contagious like the flu in cold weather.
- Use your words to compliment something positive you see in someone. (Don’t say something untrue. You can always find something praise-worthy in others.)
- Set the tone of your home. Set the tone at your office. You never know how your kind deed, your gentle answer, your smiley eyes, your encouraging words might make a big difference in someone’s life today.
Few years ago, after a long day, I stopped at a supermarket. I was tired, dragging my body around like a sack of potatoes. And so seemed to be most people around me.
When I got to the cashier’s desk, in my instinct, more than likely, I smiled and cheerfully said “Good evening!”. To which the reply most often is silence and a grumpy look. That evening, the lady looked into my eyes and said “Never stop smiling! You’ve got a beautiful smile.” That evening, I might have been the one who smiled, but her simple words brought wings to my weary body.
The people you will bump into today will be God-ordained. Treat those opportunities with care.
Teach by example. It samples godliness to others. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Have a song in your heart.” 1 Tim. 4:12
Lead by serving. It helps others. Jesus led by washing the disciples’ dirty feet. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet...” John 13:14-15
AVOID BECOMING PEOPLE PLEASERS! This is a danger zone. If you are aiming to please anyone, please Jesus. This issue is such a struggle for some of us. “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
Inspire. It gives wings to others. People around us can look up to us, or down on us. Let’s give them a reason to look up to us. I don’t mean others need to put us on a pedestal. If we are vulnerable, they will know we’re far from being perfect. But, lets give others reason to be inspired.
For some of us, we have called ourselves Christians for as long as we remember. We might have lost that first love and passion for Jesus, yet with diligence:
- we attend church (check)
- we tithe (check)
- we donate older clothes (check)
- we even read the Bible and pray in our spare time (check)
Even with all our efforts, we look like dehydrated carrots.
My husband taught me a trick learned from his grandma. In order to keep peeled carrots fresh and crunchy for a long time: you peel, cut and place them in a sealed container with water in the fridge. Now, sometimes I leave a peeled carrot on the kitchen counter with the hope to use it later to cook. Sooner than later, that carrot looks like it has died a few decades ago. It’s soft, wobbly, pale, tasteless… to use a more scientific word, it’s yuck! That’s a dehydrated carrot for ya!
Question is, how many of us are walking daily looking like dehydrated carrots: soft-spoken about our faith, wobbly in our walk with Christ, pale and joyless in our attitude. A tasteless and uninspiring faith…
… Players enter. Players exit. Let’s make the best of our short time on stage. Time is not on our side, but going on ‘the other side’, is on our timeline. “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17
Things I need to work on:
- If I were a road sign, would I direct people toward Christ?
- The people I will bump into today will be God-ordained. Treat those opportunities with care!
- Do I inspire with my faith, or do I look like a walking-dehydrated carrot?