What Makes Life Important When Views Collide
My view of what makes life important is challenged when someone doesn't agree with me. Especially if their perspective lacks my obviously superior wisdom. *eyes roll*
What makes life important to a child
My friend, Sierra, recently offered three of my granddaughters a peach. By taking a bite, each girl would be granted one wish for an imaginary journey.Adelaide, the responsible sister at age seven, wished for food, safety, and clothes for the magical journey.Karalee needed a crown, servants, a ballroom dress, and a unicorn—obvious necessities for a six-year-old princess.And Paisley, age four and determined to someday rule the world, authoritatively announced that she couldn't speak out her wishes because if she did, they wouldn't come true.Three very different sisters, each with her individual personality and view of what makes life important.They play together well. It doesn't seem to matter that each sister views the journey differently.
What makes life important to an adult
Have you noticed that as we grow older we settle into the expectation that everyone should view the world as we do? At least I have.The Adelaides in our life expect everyone to act responsible. They sometimes clash with dreamers like Karalee. Both get irritated with the Paisley types who always know what to do and can easily control their surroundings if only people will let them.Our mental maturity becomes stuck.On our own viewpoint.And we can't see through another's eyes.No wonder we have a hard time journeying together through life.
What makes life important to God
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. Romans 12:3-6 NLT
Our journey to the kingdom requires traveling together. The King expects us to use the trip as training in teamwork, or rather "body work," so that when we arrive we are ready to rule the world with him (see Rev. 5:10).
Yes, Paisley, you really will get to rule the world someday. Just be sure to journey with those who look at the world from a different view-point. You need their God-gifts to complement yours.
Have a great week as you make life important for those around you. Susan
Share with me: Have you seen the world through another's eyes lately? What did you learn?Related posts:Really, How Old Are You?Ann Voskamp molded my heart to look more like Jesus in her post If You've Ever Been Wounded by Women. Go ahead—read it—see if your heart reshapes itself a little.Why Church is Like a Box of CrayonsPlease Pass the DNA
"Jesus likes it when we share." -Adelaide, age 3: Pass this along to everybody and their brother. OK, maybe not everybody's brother, but you know . . . all of your friends would be nice.