Dear friends
I am reflecting this week on sowing and investment. Investment of time, prayer, love and I suspect a lot of patience.
The investors or ‘Sowers’ I’m thinking of, and thankful for, are our (my) youth leaders. They became an anchor to us, a group of loud, boisterous teenagers about 40 years ago. A group that I ‘accidentally’ fell into, and which ignited my faith’s journey and that of being a young leader.
The ‘harvest’ of that time, if you will, is that a good number of us it turns out, have gone on to serve the lord in a leadership capacity for most of our adult lives. We have and continue to pass on the story and love of Jesus and endeavor to mentor and serve as we ourselves were mentored and served.
Catching up with a few of the bunch this week, was such a gift. An occasion of deep sorrow that turned into a joyous celebration.
The years melted away and I thought, how on earth did we all get to where we are now. Looking at us as teenagers you would never of guessed. But here we are or rather here has God led us. Our anchors have kept us anchored. We reminisced and marveled at how they coped with us, what we got up to …and yet they stuck with us.
My takeaway is to be reminded that God really does work through people and that gentle, consistent spirit led mentoring is powerful, transformational and long lasting. More perhaps than we notice or realise at the time and I am truly thankful. Its good to pause and notice I think.
I wonder who you have had in your life that has done this for you.
I wonder how you have passed this legacy and goodness on. Are we not all called to do so in some way? Jesus did this for all of us after all.
So dear reader, I’m inspired to say keep sowing, keep loving, keep praying and being patient… you are allowed to roll your eyes occasionally though. I imagine God does! But do so with good humour. Let the spirit work through you. You never know what will come from it. God is pretty good at surprises.
Love, Julia
Julia Jones