I can still hear the same question asked repeatedly. "What do you want to be when you grow up, Terri?" If memory serves correctly, I usually put my head down and shyly responded...a wife, mom, nurse, teacher, singer, pianist, writer, horseback rider, etc.. Answers varied daily, of course, as a child. Several years later, I really wanted to be in a rock band. Of course, the career dream soon became, and remained, a crisis/trauma counselor.
Now I consider that question quite differently. When all is said and done, what do I hope was accomplished in my life? The older I get, the more I realize my greatest hopes and dreams don't even involve a career choice. I pray that I made a difference for Him by caring about people. That's it. Plain and simple. I hope that loving and listening to others helped them see Him more clearly. It won't matter how many degrees I earned...or what house I left behind...or number of awards or accolades received. What matters is how I served Him by caring about others.
When I think about who has influenced my life most, it always involves someone who simply...cared...listened...loved...prayed...hoped and encouraged. It was someone who walked beside me in both great times and tough times...and who never, ever walked away. It was someone who showed compassion...consistently...just like our faithful God.
The old adage remains true. "People don't care what you know until they know that you care." May I find some way to care each day...just as He cares each day for me.♥~thl
"...I will restore them because I have compassion on them...." Zechariah 10: 6
No comments:
Post a Comment