3:28 – Be A Good Human

#faithbites #faithjourney human

A friend of mine told me that kids at school were name calling her grandson for no reason. It made me reflect back to when I was a kid. As most of you know, I was Jewish until I found Jesus almost four years ago.

I was living in Southern California and we our neighbors weren’t so nice. Their son kept calling me names. His favorite taunt was calling me a “dirty Jew”. I was five or six at the time and didn’t understand it. I went to my mum and said I’m not dirty, I took a shower today. A few days later, he took a brick and hit me in the head with it. My brother carried me home bloodied and crying.

This kid wasn’t being a good human. It was hard to fault him as he probably learned that was ok from his parents and other elders in his life. When we scream, yell, act unkind, or are not being good humans, the young ones in our lives notice. When we love, hug, use kind words, reflect, engage, and show compassion, the young ones in our lives notice. What type of human do you want to be? I hope it’s a good one.

Scripture

• Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6
• Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32
• Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. – 1 Peter 4:9

Reflection

Like it or not, our children and others follow our example. The Bible tells us to train up a child in they way they should go. That training happens if we are actively teaching or if they watch us.

Without drawing this out too much; show kindness, and children will learn kindness. Show contempt, and they will learn that.

Love, teach, learn, grow

I wonder if that kid who cracked my head open had a good role model, would things be different?

Challenge

Are you being a good human? Are you teaching others to be? Show kindness. Help people understand. When you are wrong, apologize and ask for forgiveness.

Prayer

Thank you for your forgiveness Lord. We thank you for the cross and your example for how to live. Help us to be the example we want others to follow. In your name, Amen.