WHO'S FOLLOWING YOU?

I love watching my kids play together. 

I get the biggest kick out of seeing Madisyn try to keep up with her older brother Ethan. Madisyn will have the biggest smile on her face and the silliest giggle as she runs behind Ethan up and down the hall. 

The problem is Ethan becomes so absorbed with what he's doing, he forgets that Madisyn is right behind him. More than once he's stopped, or turned around too quickly and Madisyn crashes into him, and falls to the floor. Ethan doesn't feel a thing, unfortunately for Madisyn, she does!

I try not to get mad  at Ethan, after all he's only three, but every time I ask him "please Ethan, try to look out for your sister, remember she's following you!"

I think there are times when I have to say the exact same thing to me! "Look out Jonny, remember someone is following you!" The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy and said "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself and example of those who believe."

Too many times we make choices without thinking about the impact those choices may have on the people around us. We forget there is always someone watching us. Sometimes we get so absorbed in the things we're doing we forget that there's someone following and looking up to us. 

Looking out for others is about leading the way down the trail (good speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity). For me there's been many people leading me down the RIGHT trail, I figure it's only right that I do the same for the ones behind me.

Who's following you?

Lessons From Madisyn 101

A friend of mine died in a snowmobile accident. He was ripping through a field, hit a furrow hidden by the snow, was thrown off his sled, and died instantly.

I went to the visitation, I hate visitations. What do you say? What do you do? Who came up with this idea anyway? This one was made a little better because Dave, another friend of mine, agreed to meet me there so we could walk through the line together.

I was a little frustrated because Kelly had to be at the church for salt and light, and I was left with Madisyn. I dreaded the thought of standing with Madisyn, not yet two years old, well past her bed time, waiting to work our way through the line. What a pain this was going to be!

Dave and I worked together to keep Madisyn occupied as we waited our way through the line. The whole time I was wishing Madisyn could have just stayed at home. She did extremely well all things considering. The funeral home was too hot, and we were there for over hour and a half.

All this time I'm trying to figure out, what I would say to the parents, the widow, and my deceased friend's children?

I was holding Madisyn as we approached the "waiting line". Madisyn was tired, whining, and fighting to be let down. I was feeling a little embarrassed, and questioning whether I had made the right decision bring Madisyn, instead of just staying at home. This was getting inconvenient.

What was I going to say?

As we approached the people in the line, I extended my hand, not knowing what I should say or do. Madisyn however did the weirdest thing. I don't know where she learned this from, but as we approached each of the ladies in the line Madisyn opened her arms, leaned forward a gave out big hugs.

When we got to the widow, Madisyn leaned forward hugged her, gave her a kiss, and patted her on the shoulder. No words, just a hug and kiss. Where did that come from?

Madisyn had no idea why we were there, she doesn’t know what happened, and is too young to grasp what's going on. Yet to reach out with love and support, she didn't need to.

With a heart too big for her little body, Madisyn displayed for her dad a glimpse of Christ. She may not have known what was happening, but somehow I think she could sense the hurt inside those people. Without questions she gave what she could, a hug, a kiss, a little tiny glimpse of love.

I think that's what I need to see more. I think that's what I need to do more.

It's not always for us to understand the whys, or know the circumstances. It is however expected of us to love.

I’m glad Madisyn came along, because Madisyn said and did the things that her daddy needed to. There’s so much to learn from such a little girl.