TASTE, LOOK, LOVE

Yesterday morning my family and I were reading the Scriptures (which I have to admit happens on a regular basis because of Kathryn’s insistence on this routine.  I stink at routine)…

specifically James 2:5-13 which reads…

                Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn’t God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? Yet, you show no respect to poor people. Don’t rich people oppress you and drag you into court? Don’t they curse the good name of Jesus, the name that was used to bless you? You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” If you favor one person over another, you’re sinning, and this law convicts you of being disobedient. If someone obeys all of God’s laws except one, that person is guilty of breaking all of them. After all, the one who said, “Never commit adultery,” is the same one who said, “Never murder.” If you do not commit adultery but you murder, you become a person who disobeys God’s laws. Talk and act as people who are going to be judged by laws that bring freedom. No mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy to others. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

(Jas 2:5-13)

 

Somehow the discussion that followed came around to questions like; “How am I supposed to act, Papa?”, “But what does that mean?”, etc.  Then, rather than giving them an answer I asked them a few questions…”What does God want you to taste like?…What does God want you to look like?…What does He want you to feel like to others?  I wish I had a photo of their faces!  You could almost see the cogs in their brain turning.  They hesitated for a moment and all of the sudden Ian’s light bulb came on and he excited said “SALT!”  and Layton pops off with “LIGHT” and Keighan followed up with “LOVE!”

 

Yes!  I said to myself.  They got it!  Well, it didn’t stop there.  Later in the day, after the kids returned home from school, I was asking them about their day and Keighan was so excited she was about to bust…she had a huge smile on her face and began to share her story…

 

            “Papa, I was salt, light and love to a girl at school today.  She was being really mean to everyone and I shared with her that Jesus loves her and that she doesn’t have to be mean and even if she is mean that I am going to be nice to her no matter what.…I am going to love her.  Papa, the girl gave me a big hug and now she is my new best friend.  I told her that I would bring her a Bible and we could read it together!”

 

Wow!  What could I say to that?  I was so very proud of her.  In the world of a 4^th grade girl…she got it!

 

Well, yesterday was my 42^nd birthday and what a wonderful gift I received…to hear of my daughter being salt, light and LOVE to others.  Christ was transforming my daughter seemingly right before my eyes…Thank you Christ for this wonderful gift!!!