For Your Consideration......

 

I often get inspiration for this devotional blog from my students and that is the case this evening. My subjects will be Hayden and Ella who are in my third and fifth period classes, respectively, but that has nothing to do with the story. Hayden is a junior and Ella a sophomore but that is window dressing to the tale. There is a characteristic linking them and  that's what I want  to address.

I've known Hayden since she was a very young child. When she was in second grade, she told me she would one day be my assistant coach. Well, next year as a senior, she will join our squad first period for our daily practice sessions in that role. This year, Hayden is an aide in the Upper School office during that time slot. On Monday, she asked if she could come Tuesday and help us in basketball as things were slow in the office. I was delighted but forgot about it. Yesterday morning as we began practice, Hayden came into the gym and apologized to me- something had come up in the office and her services were needed there. Like I mentioned, I had forgotten. She would try again today and indeed, she was there this AM and made our practice a better one, helping instruct the younger girls.

That brings us to Ella. Each morning, right after our practice and during home room, I do the all school devotional on the intercom, reading the Word and leading us in prayer. As soon as I conclude my spiritual remarks, I add, 'And now, the lovely Ella with the announcements!' Ella does a masterful job, telling us of anything special in the school day that is still in its infancy. Last night, Shara Carr, our Upper School Administrative Assistant, and I received an e-mail from Ella. The gist of the message was an apology- she had an appointment and would miss the first several periods of the day, thus missing her daily assignment, which she does gratis. Ella was upset that she had neglected to inform us ahead of time BUT she did let me know she would be back for our New Testament test sixth period. Do you know how many other teens would have gone to those lengths? Well, Hayden for one but the list is extremely short. And guess who we got to play the role of Ella for that one home room on the loud speaker? Hayden, of course. It seems so symmetrical to me.

  

If you ask why I've made a big deal of two small interactions, it's just because most of us don't make a big effort for situations we think aren't all that important. That separates Hayden and Ella from most of the population. We always study the Parable of the Great Banquet from Luke 14  where a rich master becomes furious when invited guests, whom we assume have accepted, just don't show up for the lavish feast. I try to define RSVP as best I can from the original French which I don't speak. I tell them it basically means to show up if you say you are coming. (I'm no linguist!) Sure, there were other theological points made by Jesus but remember this: those who were inconsiderate didn't get into the shindig. Obviously, their lack of manners was not the focus of Jesus' teaching but they acted in an unbecoming manner. Hayden and Ella would never have stooped that low- their parental upbringings would not let them. To consider means to think about something. In this case, Ella and Hayden thought about others before they thought about themselves. I can't think of a better definition of the Golden Rule.

 

Applicable quote of the day:
One who is kind is sympathetic and gentle with others. He is considerate of others' feelings and courteous in his behavior. He has a helpful nature. Kindness pardons others' weaknesses and faults. Kindness is extended to all - to the aged and the young, to animals, to those low of station as well as the high.

 Ezra Taft Benson

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

E-mail me at shawley@westburychristian.org