When I was a young parent I swapped stories with friends about the cute and not so cute things my children said or did. I’m still sharing stories but now they’re about my little grandchildren.
They’re all different
One recent story highlighted how different they are. My husband told one grandchild a true story about an ancestor who worked with horses for police prosecutor Major O’Halloran, in the founding years of South Australia. He was enthralled.
Remembering every detail he recounted the story verbatim to his mother.
Lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice
Bursting with pride and success, my husband embarked upon the same story with another grandchild. He was hardly airborne when she interrupted with ‘Blah, blah, blah’ and skipped off to play! After his initial shock and my uncontrollable laughter we agreed that we loved their individuality.
You probably have a similar story. Maybe this next one sounds familiar.
Modelling and expectations
A young mum was sharing with me how she had asked her three year old to pack his toys away when he answered ‘In a minute’. She was taken aback but then realized that this is what she says to him. It was cute but she realized she was modelling something she didn’t want to see in her child.
Follow the model and expectation of God
We have a heavenly Father who loves the things we do and say. He is for us. He loves it when we copy Him.
He loves it when we speak the words He has spoken, when we do the things he asks us to do and when we share stories about Him.
He loves it when we advocate for the marginalized, feed the poor, sponsor children and visit those in prison.
‘If not me, who? If not now, when?’
Emma Watson, known for playing the leading role of “Hermione Granger” in the Harry Potter saga, is now the UN Women’s Global Goodwill Ambassador. Recently Emma launched the HeForShe campaign at the United Nations Congress in New York. In her speech Ms Watson encouraged men and women to speak out against gender inequality and violence against women. She shared two questions that helped her when she doubted herself at the time opportunities were presented to her. She asked ‘If not me, who? If not now, when?’
We have a story of hope that others need to hear. Tell it in your own unique style when opportunities present themselves.