…about lessons learned

Two incidents in the past couple of weeks have triggered thoughts of my childhood and lessons learned from my mother.  An interesting thing about my mother…I don’t remember her ever quoting the Bible.  However, the lessons she taught me were always practical applications of the teachings of the Bible.  For instance, she would frequently tell me that “beauty is as beauty does.”  It wasn’t until many years later that I realized that is exactly what Proverbs 31 is about.  Another lesson was about being the first to reach out to strangers.  I don’t remember if I was in Junior High or High School.  A new family moved to town and one of the kids was in my class.  I told my mom about the new girl and the first thing she told me was to introduce myself and then introduce others to her. She said, “Don’t wait for the outsider to make the first move. They don’t know anyone and are probably a little scared.”  That sounds a bit like “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

The two incidents that started this line of thought were a Sunday School discussion about spiritual gifts and a Christmas party I attended with a friend.  I was the one who knew the most people and I think I failed my friend in that I didn’t introduce her around.  I could use the excuse that I didn’t know everyone either, but that is JUST an excuse.  Because of my feelings of failure, I began to think about my mom and the lessons she taught me.  And, I began to wonder if making people feel comfortable and welcome is a gifting from God or just what we are all supposed to do as Christians.  I know there are people who do a much better job at it than I do.  Is that because I don’t have that “gift” or is it that I just don’t try?

A talent is a natural ability that can be improved upon with dedication, determination and practice.  A skill is a learned power of doing something competently: a developed aptitude or ability.  Everyone has the capacity to learn the skill of being kind, generous and welcoming.  Christians have an even greater capacity to develop this skill because the fruit of the Holy Spirit, Who lives within us, is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22b-23a)

I don’t know about you, but I think it is about time for us all to begin practicing what we preach and reach out to others!