Monday, January 28, 2008

The Power of One

A couple of Wednesday nights ago Lana's Sunday School teacher, Ms.Valerie, told Lana not to eat breakfast on Sunday morning because they would be having breakfast all together in class that day. So Thursday, Friday, and Saturday went something like this...

Me: "Lana, come eat your breakfast."

Lana: "Ms. Valerie said not to eat breakfast."

Me: "Ms. Valerie meant on Sunday, you can still eat breakfast today."

This went on for 3 days. When Sunday actually arrived she was sooo excited.

Several weeks ago I was listening to a conversation between some Moms talking about their little girls. One of the girls had asked her Mom if you could get to Heaven in a rocketship. The Mom of course said no, and the little girl then asked..."Well, how then?"

The Moms answer was this:

"Love Jesus and be nice to other people."

And the childs obvious response, "I do love Jesus and I am very nice to other people."

It's amazing to me the power ONE person has to affect another. In Lana's case about the breakfast, she loves Ms. Valerie so much that if Ms. Valerie said not to eat breakfast, well then OK, whatever she says. Ms. Valerie as Lana's Sunday School teacher has a lot of power in her words. If Lana is willing to sacrifice 3 days worth of breakfast to wait for one day, then what else is she learning from Ms. Valerie? Thankfully I can say that that one person in my daughters life is making a big postive impact. Not at all that we are using Church as our kids sole source of Biblical teaching. But I am thankful for teachers like Ms. Valerie that are helping us to plant seeds of Godiliness into our daughters life. I'm thankful that we are able to use Sunday School and childrens Church and Awanas as a catalyst for more Bibilical discussion at home.

Imagine the confusion if Ms. Valerie, whom Lana loves, wasn't teaching the truth.

In this case, the power of ONE person is a blessing for us and a person we are thankful to have in our childs life.

But what about the Mom I was listening too? What about her little girl and her new perception of how to get to Heaven?

"Love Jesus and be nice to other people."

Wow...that ONE statement from that ONE trusted person. It made me sad to hear that Mama say that. I mean what 5 year old is not going to say they don't love Jesus and are not nice to people?

What if instead that Mom said...

"Well sweetie, because we're not always nice to others and because we don't always obey, we are sinners. Because we are sinners we need a Saviour. And because God loves us, He sent His Son Jesus to be our Saviour."

Of course a 5 year old does not fully understand what a Saviour is, but at least now the issue of salvation is not how good we are but instead that we are sinners that God loved enough to send a Saviour for. Loving Jesus and being nice to others is now something that is right to do, but not a criteria you have to meet to get to Heaven.

The power of ONE is an amazing concept. ONE kiss in the morning from your husband can start the day of right. ONE hug from your child can make you feel like all is right with the world. ONE unexpected gift can lift your spirits. Sharing the Gospel even ONE time is at least planting a seed and is for sure obeying and therefore Glorifying Christ.
The power of ONE can work against us as well, but for today I am thankful for all the powers of ONE that are working in my life.

9 comments:

Kristi said...

Wow! Thank you, Missy! The power of ONE is, can I say powerful? We are strugling to make a decision about school next year. Do we continue homeschooling Kaylin? Who do I want the ONE to be in her life? Wow! More to think and pray about.

heather said...

Very cool. I am thankful to all the teachers and is great and a wonderful thing to see a child growing in the Lord. Also you know Lana is ready for fasting is she is willing to give up breakfast.

Marsha said...

Great post and application, Miss. Now's a good time for a lesson on Esther or Daniel. Phillip Bliss wrote a song called "Dare To Be a Daniel".
Here's the first verse and chorus -

Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God’s command,
Honor them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel’s band!

Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.

Sometimes the power of one must stand alone. Now more than ever it's important for us to instill within our children that concept as part of their Biblical worldview.

valerie said...

You know, I never really thought about it that way, I just know the joy I get from working with Lana, Logan and the other children and normally I always learn something from them too. Being able to share the most important person in my life with all of the children that I have come to love so much is very special to me. I am very honored to play a small roll in their lifes.

Jeri Tanner said...

Missy, this is one good post! Very well said, and great food for thought. Thanks.

Kimmipeach@gmail.com said...

i needed to hear that today, my friend. God is so good and faithful to use the people in our lives to grow us.

Amber said...

oooh. Thanks for the post. Very convicting to me to be that ONE person in my kids' lives.

Graced said...

Yes, We are still up for the Planetarium. If for nothing else than to see you in person!

Crissy said...

Ahhh. *sigh* I like this post.