I was packing the car at the end of a community fun day when a young boy whose parents are friends of mine asked if he could help me. He was a fantastic little worker who helped (or tried to help) take the gazebo down and then he carried things to the car where he proceeded to put them into the car in any old order.
I was really encouraged that he wanted to help but the truth is that it would have been quicker to pack up without him. He wasn’t very efficient and I was also chatting with his parents which I really enjoyed, but it meant that it all took longer.
So what should I have done? Should I have said that I was tired at the end of a long day and that I just needed to do it myself?
When we are too busy it often results in us not always treating others well.
Here we had a young boy who was keen to help and it meant the world to him that he had been allowed to. I hadn’t realized what this really meant to him until I was getting into the car to drive home and he said ‘can I come with you‘.
As I thought about it later, it struck me that he had so enjoyed being able to join in that he wanted to continue. He went on to say that he really wanted to come home with me so that ‘we could keep doing cool stuff‘. It’s funny, because I personally don’t think that loading a car with things is particularly doing cool stuff, but that is how he saw it.
There is too much impatience and selfishness in the world.
Instead of trying to be as efficient as possible all the time, let’s make being inclusive a priority. People are really important and valuable (and this was the theme of our stall at the fun day) and so we should give them the time that they deserve even when it is inconvenient. I had a really enjoyable chat with this boy’s parents as we slowly packed up and it was one of the highlights of my day. Sometimes when we are over busy or focused just on efficiency, it can can mean that we miss out on some of the joys in life.
The way the boy wanted to help also reminded me of our relationship with God. God is willing to let us join him in his work even though it would be easier for him to do it without us. Part of us serving and following God must be a commitment for us to let him lead and teach us as he shows us how to live our lives well.
God is amazing, loving, inclusive and accepting and I hope that we can be inspired to be like him.
Honest about my faith 