By Laya Onizuka
“Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones, purified and holy and well-beloved by God himself, by putting on behavior marked by tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, patience (which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper).” Colossians 3:12 (Amplified Bible)
I have somehow found myself being one of the few parents supervising children in many settings. I enjoy talking with children and guarding them. Perhaps because I had a big caring extended family when I was little: many aunties to visit, many aunties to converse with. Perhaps because I once heard of a faithful Polish priest who opted to stay in a gas chamber with Jewish orphans and comfort them and die with them rather than love his own life.
In my neighborhood I often find that I am the only parent guarding the children at play. Sometimes I would be angry that I had to be there because I didn’t have dinner ready and couldn’t be everywhere at the same time. However, I believe that I yielded to my calling of preferring to be with the children at all costs. Yet I had to deal with some resentment toward other mothers who didn’t even look out to see if their children were okay.
As I meditated on Colossians 3:12 and as I heard a message regarding our purpose of living – to draw others to a loving relationship with Jesus, my heart melted. It was a good thing that it did before the sweet avalanche of testing came to me.
A new family moved in my neighborhood. I had seen some of the children playing outdoors and drawing large crowds to our cul-de-sac. I thought I was going to have serious problems with my attitude and heart, but God has established his purpose in my life for this time. That is, to be available with all my heart to those children. They come almost on a daily basis to our house and they abide with us in harmony. My children’s needs for friends are being met in sweet ways and there is no fight in my heart.
I sense I have an appointment with God’s purposes and that makes me more organized with my personal responsibilities and ready to be swept by God’s sweet avalanche.
Prayer: “Heavenly Father, each word you have selected breaks down walls, molds hearts, sweetens the soul. I love you.”