Be Proud

Anyone who has been to Norwalk Alliance Church in first service when my family is there knows one thing for sure.  My daughter Abby is extremely proud when she gets to participate in the service.  Every week for years now during the announcements the person leading them will say, “We're the Norwalk Alliance Church and we’re…”, and this is where the congregation responds:  “Living the Call together.”  Abby loves to make sure she’s heard during this and does so without a second thought.

The other week when she did this and the congregation was once again amused by her boldness, it had me thinking.  Here Abby is, showing not only how proud she is to know the response, but she also has an idea of what it actually means to live the call together.  She’s willing to put herself out there in front of everyone and has no qualms about it. 

What if the rest of us Christians were as equally bold out in the world every day?  What if we were not afraid to let everyone know that we lived our lives for Christ and wanted to share them with others?  What if we stopped worrying about what everyone else around us thought and instead just lived our lives for Him?

It’s something to think about, isn’t it?  I’m not saying I’m perfect, as I’m just as far from this as everyone else.  Yet, what a goal that would be, to be so proud of living my life for Christ that I made sure everyone else knew where I stand.  Not just by a bumper sticker I have on the car, a sign in the yard, or a t-shirt that I wear .  Instead, you could just see me and know where I stand, and who I stand for!  If only we could all be so proud.

From the Mouths of Babes

Sunday night my wife Traci and I were talking to one another at the dinner table while the kids were doing their own thing.  I can’t remember what the exact topic was at the time, but I do know that Traci mentioned about something being annoying or frustrating, and of course that is the moment that our youngest, Abby, walked into the room.  She looked at me with an inquisitive face.  I let her know something to the effect that sometimes mommy can get frustrated with things.  Abby’s response:  “Yeah, I know.  I live in this house.”  Then she walked away.

Now I mention this for more than just the comedic value.  (We were dying on that one.)  I mention it because it just goes to prove a very valid point that we hear all of the time.  Our kids are learning from us even when we don’t think they are.  Who knows what put that thought into Abby’s mind, and frankly it might not have been much.  But, what if we had been cursing when we didn’t think the kids were paying attention?  What if we acted one way at church and another at home?  What kind of reaction would the kids have then?

As a Christian you have to be the same person every day.  You never know who is looking.  One wrong step can give anyone the wrong idea of what being a Christian is all about.  This responsibility seems like a lot, I know.  But, I’ll take that over what Jesus endured for me any day.  What about you?