This week I had a bizarre emotional experience.
I gave devotion at our Prefect Dedication Ceremony and straight afterwards I gave a devotion at a plaque dedication for one of our Junior School students who passed away earlier this year. It was strange moving so quickly from celebration to grief and yet it was instructive – let me explain.
At the Prefects ceremony I shared this passage.
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers,
not by compulsion but willingly,
not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 not by lording over those entrusted to you,
but being examples to the flock…
- 1 Peter 5:2
The bible reminds us that to be a leader is to be a shepherd – to oversee the people entrusted to you by God; leading through inspiration not domination because the flock are precious as they belong to God not us.
After that, at Hunter Khalil’s dedication, I spoke on Matthew 19:14
“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these..”
This is one of the rare times that Jesus got angry. He was angry at his own followers who tried to stop children from coming to him. Jesus wanted to bless children, to tell them about the kingdom of heaven, to give them eternal life. But the disciples thought otherwise – children are too young for such matters. Jesus rebuked them and taught the adults that they needed to be like children – trusting, vulnerable, taking Jesus at his word.
As I walked back to my desk the two devotions melded into one in my head and heart. I realised that, as a Father and teacher, I am entrusted with my children for only a time. It is during that time that I have a responsibility to teach them, lead them, model to them Jesus and the things that lead to eternal life. I also realised that the time I have been entrusted with is unknown. This makes all moments precious opportunities to be a real Christian.
Parents are shepherds and we only have the now with our children – let us use the now well.
