He walks quietly across the lawn,
laden with fallen palm fronds,
speaking softly to the small person who follows in his wake.
She is busy, looking at flowers,
discovering sour grass,
looking for birds.
They are content together,
the two of them drifting slowly towards the driveway.
She squints a little,
facing into the sunshine.
And then the smile breaks and I hear her laugh.
He has asked her a question –
who knows what it is.
And she laughs and says,
“I no know. I no know, Poppy. I NO KNOW.”
Ah, but I do.
I know that this man is a good man,
a faithful one,
and an earnest and committed follower of Jesus.
And he happens to be gifted with children.
He always has been,
especially small ones.
And anytime he’s with a toddler,
or a pre-schooler,
or even an elementary student,
he gives them undivided attention.
He delights in their presence,
their growing intelligence and understanding,
their open-heartedness.
And he lives the gospel when he’s with them.
As I have reflected on Sunday’s sermon,
I have thought a lot about this man.
I have thought a lot about this man.
This good man who happens to be my husband.
We’re in the midst of a series called,
“What Time Is It?”
And each week, the topic for the morning follows
that introductory phrase,
“It’s Time to…,”
finished this week by “…Repent and Go Fishin'”
We were in Mark 1 on Sunday,
We were in Mark 1 on Sunday,that scene where Jesus sees some men fishing and
challenges them to come away
from their nets for a while.
He calls them to repent, to follow him,
and then…
to go fishing –
fishing for people,
not just sea creatures.
They’re in for an adventure, these fishermen,
an adventure that begins with who they are,
and where they are.
And Pastor Jon just nailed it.
There were several lovely points woven through his narrative, but this is the one that stuck with me the most,
the one I’ve been ruminating on as I watch my husband
in this second year of our shared retirement:
Not one of the people that Jesus called to follow him
was a religious ‘professional.’
Every one of them was called
in the context of what they were already doing.
And that’s where the adventure began.
Where it begins for each of us.
Nothing is secular,
everywhere has the potential to be sacred space.
We are all called,
every single one of us.
If we follow after the good news of Jesus,
we are called right where we are.
Every job is a mission field,
every person we meet is a gift of grace,
every word we offer has the potential
to be gospel good news for someone, somewhere.
Here is the takeaway quote for me this week:
“Jesus is not calling us to church work;
Jesus is calling us to follow him in our work,
whatever that may be.”
So, if you’re raising babies and toddlers,
and able to stay at home with them –
there is your good news platform.
If you’re in an office, behind a bank window,
standing in front of a classroom,
driving a cab, rising early to bake bread,
serving food in a restaurant,
or moving into the new rhythms of retirement –
wherever you are,
there is where you are called,
there is where YOU are a pastor.
So I watch my husband pastor our granddaughter,
as he has every one of our children and our grandchildren,
as well as many of the children in every church
we have ever attended.
And I thank God that he has heard the call of Jesus
so clearly;
that he has responded so obediently;
that he is living the good news…
right where he is.
How about you?
Joining with Michelle and with Emily and with Bonnie this Wednesday night:
Diana, this post is so beautiful, your husband with those gorgeous grandchildren. I, too, am blessed with a husband who has a heart for the wee ones. It’s so sweet, isn’t it, to watch your man disciple the next generation?
I am absorbing your pastor’s point about the locus of our ministry. It’s like I “knew” that, but he helps me to “get it” more. Thank you.
Oh, Diana, what a moving tribute to your husband! God has given you and your kids and grandkids a treasure, indeed!
I laughed out loud at the picture of him wearing purple fairy wings! That’s one to show your granddaughter about 18 years from now!
Smiles,
Linda
Really like this post! Such sweet words about your husband.
What a beautiful tribute honoring and adoring your husband! I enjoyed reading.
I regularly thank God for the man He brought into my life. We are greatly blessed, aren’t we? 🙂
This makes me miss you guys sooooo much. Dick is darling, especially as Dr. Grandpa. Too funny! BTW, often up late reading bc I’m pregnant with #4 – happy but uncomfortable 🙂
Thanks all – he is good guy, that is for sure.
And CAROLYN – Really?? Congrats, best wishes, be well. When? Do you know boy/girl? I need your address sometime, too, friend. Maybe by email?
Every one of them was called
in the context of what they were already doing.
Yes. Yes. Yes!! Fabulous. Right up there with Glynn’s thoughts on missions this week. I am so glad I met you and the Grandpa Pastor. Hugs.
What a sweet post, Diana. And what a love story!
there is nothing more beautiful than a man who treats children with respect. i see Jesus in him.
My husband is like yours–great with kids 10 and under. Not so good with teens. P.S. We have two teens.
Oh, yeah, Megan. I SO get that. You’ll note I didn’t include teens in the list of those with whom my husband has instant rapport. :>) It was during those years that my husband was very glad to be married to me, I think. Neither of us did this parenting thing perfectly, that is for sure. But he was terrific at the first 10 years, helping me to be more patient and to see little ones through the eyes of love as well as exhaustion. And I like to think that i helped him remember that teens are humans, too – that it’s a confusing and scary time for most of them. But the people they are becoming during those years? SO MUCH FUN TO SEE. We made a good team and I am grateful.