One of our favorite missionaries uses the imagery of ripples in a pond when she speaks of the part that we play in people's lives. We toss our stone into the pond. Sometimes the rock makes a big splash. Sometimes rather small. But either way there are ripples that continue to move out from the initial event.
I got misty-eyed Sunday night at a children's musical directed by my middle daughter. Not only because of the usual distracted child in the front row of the angel chorus or the almost-on-pitch soloist or the brief moment one of the dance numbers was reminiscent of "one Grecian urn", (Tip of the hat to The Music Man) but also because the entire production was a ripple of the years that other adults invested in my daughter's life, particularly in using her talent in the arts.
Seated two rows behind me were my son and his fiancé. In four weeks he will be preaching to his local church. A church much larger than most churches I've preached in. Ripples of those adults who saw his gifts, communication among them, and encouraged him.
Arriving next Tuesday, my oldest daughter will spend the holidays with us and with people who are part of the support team who make it possible for her to work with a school in western Europe, recruiting godly men and women who will help educate children of missionaries which, in turn, allows them to continue their ministry. Ripples of those adults who saw her creativity and administrative talents and encouraged her.
I thank God upon every remembrance of my children, but also the myriads of adults who took the time to affirm their gifts and point them to Jesus.
4 comments:
Now I'm misty-eyed.
Thank YOU and Sharon for investing in our daughters' lives and encouraging them in their endeavors and talents.
(I get to be the piano player this year, and one of my old student performers is the writer and director of this year's children's Christmas production! Yay Carrie!)
And now some of those adults are shaping my children...thank you for pouring so much into them.
I have not met John, but let him know that I am finding a unique fruit of his ministry here. I habitually ask youth group kids about their Christian faith. The answers are 90% about legalistic garbage they learned in youth group. I have had several great conversations with young men here who give clear, strong affirmation of the death and resurrection of Jesus...and they attribute that faith to John.
Blessings to you all and may the ripples continue.
Robert, I passed your comment on to Jon by way of encouragement. As John, the disciple whom Jesus loved put it, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
Paul, I had two youth sponsors that were in my life from grade 6-9 at a church in Canada that were so 'cool' and loved JESUS! Right before the time that my family moved to a new church (another story for another time) They had their first child! A girl! I was so excited for Barry and Geri (though was worried they'd try to name their kids rhyming names too - Larry and Jerry and Mary?)
Anyway - that was 17 years ago - And their daughter is in one of my dorms here in Malaysia. I had a chance to visit with them when they came up from Bali for the weekend in Novemeber and it was just like you said - a cool chance to see how those rippled happen. They poured into my life and now I speak into their daughter's life as her mentor here and pray over here regularly.
We never know how He uses us today will play out in a life later do we. We can be assured that Obedience always equals blessings though, if we see the fruit or not. Our God has good plans. :) Thank you for speaking into my life these past months - God is using you in my life and God has me here touching the world here in my job. I have lives from 25 countries in my care every single week. I am praying it comes back to you ten-fold... Blessings!
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