A little explanation may be in order to understand what was going on. At our school, at the end of the day, certain support staff walk the length of the Kindergarten-First grade hallway collecting children for the
various buses. As we go, we carry a sign with the bus number and call out the number as we pass the rooms. We then lead our lines out the doors and onto the buses. Apparently, this fellow above recognized the teacher involved as someone who would take him to his bus, and he was either imitating her by calling out his bus number, or he was reporting for duty. In any case, he saw her as someone connected with his bus.
After this story was related to me, I wondered, what else do these children see in us? Do they see me only as the man who wears funny ties? Do they see me as someone who has time to return a wave as we pass? In their eyes, am I someone who responds to their needs?
Or do they see me simply as someone who is always telling them to sit down and be quiet? Stay in line, and quit talking! Pay attention to your work! Is that the me they see? Am I a friend, or someone to be endured during the day? What do they see in me?
In a passage in Matthew 25, Christ relates the connection between how we treat and respond to the least of those around us (children, perhaps?) to how we treat Him. “(I)nasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Verse 40)
Perhaps I’ve been focusing on the wrong question. Instead of only asking, “What do they see in me?” I should also be asking, “What do I see in them?”
Yes, it is important for me to act in such a way that they will see Christ reflected in my life. Wait, that is poorly worded. I shouldn’t be acting. May my life be under Christ’s control to such an extent that they see Him, rather than me.
At the same time, it is also important for me to see them as Christ’s lambs, for such they are. Hmmmm. How can I do that? Let's see. If He’s in control....How will I see them?
Have a blessed day.
Dr. G
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