The
other day we had occasion to visit with a fine young man. We listened as he
shared. Then we thanked him for being a
man of integrity, for guarding his ways and for being a man of truth. He sort
of chuckled, gave a big smile and said, “It wasn’t too hard. It was pretty
easy.”
Hmmm,
really? Pretty easy? Maybe that choice
felt easy, but that is because it sits on the foundation of a thousand-and-more
right choices. That foundation was built over generations, one decision at a
time, one person at a time, one choice on top of another, all leading to, “It
wasn’t too hard. It was pretty easy.”
So here is to God, who gave us His word
to be a light to our path and a guide to our feet. Who gave His own Son that we
might have the mind of Christ. For listening and hearing, caring and answering.
For gifting and enabling and bearing. For all of these decisions and more,
“Thank you!”
Here is to Christ, who “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” and
went to the cross to die for us that we might live. For coming, abiding,
teaching and modeling. For personifying humility, selflessness and grace. For
all these decisions and more, “Thank you!”
Here is to the generations
of grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and siblings; family by blood and
family by experience,
whose decisions led to what is right. Making decisions to go to church even
when it wasn’t easy. Choosing to stand firm even when others were not. Deciding
to go the extra mile to be sure moral lessons were rightly learned, guarding as
well as guiding hearts. Speaking up, speaking out, speaking into as needed,
choosing to convey God’s way as the best way. For all these decisions and more,
“Thank you!”
Here is to the
neighbors whose
unconditional love modeled rightness in life. For teaching there is a knowing
deeper than language can express and that smiles and handshakes say more than
we can know. For teaching that people groups and culture are very important yet
create little difference. For helping to learn to be at home in a thatched-roof
hut as much as in one’s own bedroom. For being willing to be chosen as friends
and neighbors and heroes. For sharing and answering and asking what matters.
For all these decisions and more, “Thank you!”
Here is to the prayer
warriors
who answered the call to battle, raising their voices and hearts to the Victor
who leads us all. Who willingly awakened to God’s Spirit prompting them to pray
for safety and provision. For persisting and enduring, repeatedly reminding and
petitioning. For remembering and continuing without ceasing. For all these
decisions and more, “Thank you!”
Here is to the teachers
who
believed and challenged and modeled the way into making wise choices. Holding
the standard high, taking time to further explain and re-demonstrate, offering
yet another suggestion. Applauding successes and forgiving failures, bringing
learning at the highest level, ever champions for right-doing in all things.
For all these decisions and more, “Thank you!”
Here is to dorm parents
who
set down rules and made it possible to keep them. For pointing out that one can
have fun and enjoy life without making it hard on others. Deciding to stay up
late and listen, to check dorm rooms and beds, to study and pray and model the
way. Giving and going and sharing the journeys. Being there, rightly, in all
situations. For all these decisions and more, “Thank you!”
Here is to the coaches who gave out game plans
and workouts. For challenging and inspiring and motivating when no one else
could. Who molded and shaped not only muscles and skills but hearts and minds
as well. For expecting the best and training others how to give it. For reinforcing there is fun in the playing
of the game and that the best never forget it. For maintaining good
sportsmanship as the wisest of all game choices. For building character that
can be trusted and counted on. For all these decisions and more, “Thank you!”
Here is to all the
friends
who became as family, mattering not what passport country their parents called
home. For playing and imagining, creating and sharing. For jokes and for tricks,
for sharing in fun and in discipline. For being there in joy and equally
present in sorrow. For making hellos so sweet and goodbyes so hard. For
understanding without words, knowing without being told. For all these
decisions and more, “Thank you!”
Here is to all the
classmates, roommates, workmates and teammates who shared life on all
levels. For being willing to be observed and analyzed, partaking in discussion
that ultimately leads to making good choices. For fun and laughter; shared
tears, clothes and frustrations; for games and hugs and prayer. For being
there, sticking with it, explaining, helping to find a better way, showing
alternative routes to good ends. For risking and including and staying. For all
these decisions and more, “Thank you!”
It
takes a village to raise a child. This is our thanks to all in the international
village who helped us raise our children. Standing on the foundation you all
helped to construct, now as adults our kids can say, “It wasn’t too hard. It
was pretty easy.”
Who in your village influenced you in making right decisions? Who in your village is learning from your decision-making? It takes a village....
Jeff
and Christine
