My grandkids inspire me – from Bahrain to Miami!
By Derek Maul
We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful.
ROMANS 12:4-8
I have decided to build this morning’s post around this photograph of our two-and-a-half-year-old grandson, Mr. T., in Bahrain. We don’t get all that many images “cleared by the censors” to share, so I’m jumping on this one.
If you read my series of blog posts when Rebekah visited the kingdom earlier this year, there is a very little on the island other than sand. What makes the place interesting is the people. But isn’t that always the case? This may be a polarized, conflicted, war-torn world, but it is populated – in the most part – by genuine, hospitable, good-hearted people who want nothing more than peace.
So here is Mr. T., riding his bike around and checking out one of the many oil wells that dot the landscape.
His parents are not in Bahrain because of geopolitics, for tourism, to Americanize the local culture, or to exploit the economy, but to share the gift of an education and to install a love of learning with anyone they have the privilege of reaching and teaching.
Then, younger still, our Miami grandson is getting his balance back now the cast on his leg is gone. With a little help, of course, from his wonderful siblings.
This image is exactly where I want our relationship to the wide world to be right now. Help; respect; belief; a steadying hand; investment in others; hope; promise; courage evidenced in one because of encouragement from the other; self-giving generosity; love in action.
Is not the point of strength to lift up?
Is not my privilege also my responsibility?
Is not blessing a reason to bless?
Is not this gift of life an opportunity to serve? And Jesus our invitation to live?
What would happen if kindness, generosity, service, and grace defined us?
In love, and because of love – DEREK
Derek is a North Carolina-based writer, journalist, teacher and speaker. He is the author of numerous books on what the Bible reveals as essential in becoming a man of God.
He is convinced that his four grandchildren are exactly the hope and promise that this world needs. His conviction is important to understand because it reveals a lot about his theology, and how he believes our identity as God’s children plays out in the day-to-day experience of living in a world where darkness, disappointment, and defeat are all too common.
He is a committed encourager, and a pilgrim in progress. He divides his time between writing and traveling to speak about the fully engaged life. His passion is to connect people – men and women – with a more vibrant, authentic experience of what he calls “The Life-Charged Life.”
If you would like to read more, check out his author page at Amazon. Also check out his website and his daily blog.
Reading Between The Lines, With Derek Maul is published every Wednesday on Christian Grandfather Magazine.
0 Comments