Everyday is a new chance to make a difference.
I was telling my hubby last night about an e-mail I received from the high school about after-prom. After-prom is the after dance party that the two local high schools put on together. They lock the kids in all night with movies, snacks, games, bounce houses and lots of supervision. Well apparently,this year, after eleven successful years, there are so few volunteers, they may have to cancel the event.
They are really trying to get freshmen and sophomore parents to “step up” and help out. Keep in mind, our children are not even allowed to attend until they are juniors. To be honest, I was quite annoyed with the entire suggestion. Where are the junior and senior parents in two whole high schools? Is it really up to the parents of the underclassmen to keep this program in existence?
My husband simply replied, “So, it’s like that everywhere. It’s not just church.”
I was silent for a moment. He was absolutely right. We are very involved with our church. If our children are involved in it, we feel like it’s our responsibility to be involved as well. We have had conversation after conversation about figuring out how to stop the “drop off” mentality.
We wonder why it is that parents will help kids with school homework or sports practice, but what is it about our children’s Christian education that people just let go? They just drop them off and assume someone else will teach them or feed them or chaperone their events.
But, my hubby opened my eyes a little. As human beings, we always assume someone else will do it. Unfortunately, we are wrong.
Mahatma Gandhi one said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” That has become my new mantra. If you don’t like how a program at church is being run, don’t complain; volunteer, roll up you sleeves and change it. If you do like how a program is being run, be sure to ask if they need help maintaining it. Very few wonderful programs from children’s church, to after-prom activities, run themselves.
In other words, don’t say, do. I started with my fourteen-year-old daughter who has been complaining about eating the same dinners week after week. (Even though she and her brother are the pickiest eaters on the planet.) I told her we would be happy to serve something else, but I needed suggestions. She e-mailed some to my husband. (Yes, she was sitting in the next room, gotta love Smart Phones!) “Not so fast!” we said. We wanted recipes too. She complied. Now, we are going to make her make a grocery list and go and buy the ingredients with us.
It’s a start. Would Jesus have changed the world if He never left the temple? Would the disciples have changed the world if they never left the room they were in at Pentecost? Would Paul have changed the world if he never left the house after he regained his sight?
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say, “No.” They all got out there and got dirty. Here’s my challenge, let’s look  around. What’s not working? Let’s roll up our sleeves and try to help fix it. Let’s be the change we seek. Who’s with me? I’d love to hear from you.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy đŸ™‚