Lately, I've been doing a little thinking as I peruse blog articles and websites discussing which ministry methods are best, which parenting techniques are fully glorifying to God. I've been burdened by our tendencies to "best" each other or find fault with each other in order to make ourselves feel better about whatever choice we make.
I was going to post something, but while reading Ruthie's blog this morning, I clicked on a link to her brother-in-law's site and found an article well written. Wanted to leave a comment, but apparently I have to log in, so instead of leaving a comment there, I urge you to check out this insightful article.
I've commented before that I love working with junior highers because you EXPECT them to be immature, to lack discretion, to be in that transitional state, to be insecure and figuring things out for themselves (and yes, to smell a certain way). It is so exciting to watch them grow past that, to watch the metamorphosis from just-out-of-sixth-grade to going-into-ninth-grade. The growth is USUALLY phenomenal. I love the process.
Occasionally, however, it's not so exciting. A kid will come in and go out with the same immaturity, lack of discretion, and unanswered questions that he came in with...and it breaks your heart! It's incredibly sad to watch these kids grow into young adulthood and graduate with a junior high mentality.
Are we as believers doing the same? Does our lack of maturity, discretion and security encourage hastily spoken words of judgement? What is our motive for this judgement? Am I allowing God's Word to dominate my words, my thoughts, my judgements of others? When confrontation needs to occur, do I do it based on God's Word or am I a "junior higher" and pass the word around that "so-and-so did thus-and-such" thereby sowing seeds of dissention?
God, please make me sensitive to You.
8 comments:
Well said. I too loved ministering to junior highers (though most folks thought that I was crazy). I love their energy and earnestness. Thanks for the rebuke; with God's grace I hope to speak kindly and lovingly today.
wow!! very good!! I was thinking along those lines (yet not so deep) :( about the news last night on breastfeeding vs formula! how we compare and "one up" each other in every aspect of our lives - instead of bearing each other's burdens and genuinely caring w/ Christ-love!! May we seek the "meat" of the Word - not "milk" - and thereby growing daily more like Christ!!
good article:
http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/2006/06/just_a_suggesti.html
http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/
2006/06/just_a_suggesti.html
I posted again in case, like on my computer, the link got chopped. It's a great article, Lindsay. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Hey, I just wanted to let you know that we did get an invite to the reception and we are planning on being there! We are excited to see Nate and to meet his wife! See you there!
Jenny, thanks for the thoughts! I also really enjoy junior highers, but I can't say I enjoyed junior high. I was such a dork! I noticed you posted on Mark's site now that he opened up the comment option. I get a kick out of reading the Tims and Mark wax sarcastic with each other-it reminds me of Northland. There's just one voice missing . . . Tuttle! Rachel H. told me she saw him at BJ a couple weeks ago.
I think I am late on posting on this topic, but I did see Mark's post over the weekend, and have been mulling over it and feeling very convicted. It seems like pride always tries to creep its way into our lives some way or the other! Man, I can't wait for a glorified body!
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