Back when I was teaching I used to say to my year seven students, "There are two rules for life. Be nice to your teacher. And be nice to your mummy. If you do these two things all will go well for you." Of course they would laugh. When you are twelve years old you don't call your mum "Mummy." But making twelve year olds laugh is one way to make them listen to you!
In a similar vein to the year seven rules of life, but far better, my husband farewells our boys off to school each morning by saying, "Be a blessing to your teachers and be a blessing to your friends." Such wonderful words for them to hear as they head off for their day, most especially because they understand, at least in small part, what it means to be a blessing.
I have been dipping into The Valley of Vision again recently. At the back there is a set of prayers for the week - one for each morning and evening. This morning's prayer - the prayer for the sixth morning of the week - finishes up with some wonderful words that amplify an aspect of what it means to be a blessing to those about us as we make our way through our day.
Thy Son is our only refuge, foundation, hope, confidence;
We depend upon his death,
rest in his righteousness,
desire to bear his image;
May his glory fill our minds,
his love reign in our affections,
his cross inflame us with ardour.
Let us as Christians fill our various situations in life,
escape the snares to which they expose us,
discharge the duties that arise from our circumstances,
enjoy with moderation their advantages,
improve with diligence their usefulness,
And may every place and company we are in be benefited by us.
The line "Let us as Christians fill our various situations in life," particularly caught my gaze, that "every place and company we are in be benefited by us." Beautiful. A helpful thing to bring to mind while travelling through the day. And it reminded me of this...I have thought about this subject before.
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Bec
What wonderful words, Meredith! thanks dear. xc
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