May 17, 2014

1 Timothy 4:12b

Set an example for the believers in what you say and in how you live. Also set an example in how you love and in what you believe. Show the believers how to be pure.

Yesterday, Rick and I spent the late afternoon and evening with your three youngest grandchildren. When we picked them up, soon to be 4-year-old Ellie showed me the snap bracelet she was wearing. She had confiscated it from her younger brother, Dylan’s Easter basket that we had given him. It is bright green. The letters forming the word are raised little pieces of plastic that jiggle when your finger runs over them.

We did very normal things with the kids: went to the park, checked out the steers that had recently been put into Grandpa-Great’s pasture, ate dinner at Culver’s. While at Grandpa-Great’s house, we visited the attic where all kinds of “treasures” live. We left the attic with a couple boxes of well-chosen items to decorate their playhouse: a toaster, plastic flowers, a green plastic shot glass, a crocheted cat and a popcorn popper.

After dinner, we were driving the kid’s home. Dylan and Grandpa were burping. Waylan was drawing pictures in a notebook, asking me to spell “church” or “baptism.” What the kid’s call “church music” (i.e.- Vacation Bible School music) filled the background. Sitting directly behind me, Ellie was playing with her slap bracelet. Her little voice came from the backseat, “Dianne, will you be my bestest buddy forever?”

I quickly replied, “Of course, Ellie, I will be your bestest buddy. I want to be your bestest buddy.”

Her voice came back, “Then you get my Rockstar bracelet so you can always remember that you are my bestest buddy.”

Lately, there have been more days that I feel I have failed on the journey of life than I have succeeded. Try as I might, I’ve made little mishaps and disappointed myself and others. I have not done a very good job of always setting the example to encourage others to walk close with Jesus. I haven’t been a very good Rockstar.

We are encouraged to set an example of living the Christian life. We are spurred not give up. To model holiness. To be a Rockstar to someone.

God places people in our lives with the opportunity to be a Rockstar to them. Who can you be a Rockstar to this day? This week? Who can you model the love of Jesus Christ to, whether big or small, for a minute or for a lifetime? Yes, the ultimate Rockstar is Jesus. But he needs a little help in the skin department. We can be the hands and feet, the ears and mouths, the eyes and touch to help someone discover Jesus as their bestest buddy ever.

Someday, my status as Ellie’s bestest buddy will fade. I will be easily replaced by a best friend from school or maybe later a boyfriend. But for now, I love being her Rockstar. And I have the bracelet to prove it.

Lord God – allow us to forgive ourselves when we fail you, ourselves and others. Thank you for placing people before us to model the Christian journey. May our lives point people to the ultimate Rockstar, Jesus.  Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne

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