Put yourself in their shoes. It’s a common phrase but how often do we actually take the time to do that? This week we are focused on the value of family, specifically our church family. For family to thrive and live with empathy toward each other we must begin understand the challenges that each other face, especially those who are not like us.
If you have no little children at this stage in life, imagine the chaos of a single mother. All you want is for your kids to get their shoes on. You already told them five times and somehow they keep getting distracted. One is yelling at the other for who knows what. Once you finally get the kids in the car you are running late and you are seriously angry. You hope there isn’t a line for children checking and Lord, please let there be a close parking spot. How are you supposed to get ready for worship when it’s as if your kids sole purpose is to cause exactly the opposite?
Or perhaps you are retired. Your kids have moved to other states. You get ready in silence. You drive to church in silence and you walk to the front door alone. You walk in and you see the young families chasing kids and you miss those days so badly. After a few casual hellos you find your seat and you wonder does anyone see me anymore? You never thought you would be the one who longed for the good old days but now you do. You deeply long for those days and then you stand for worship and the song that plays is something you have never heard before. Why is everything that I loved in my youth considered dated now? Doesn’t anything last?
Take a few moments and imagine what it is like to go to church for someone very different than you. This list might prompt your thinking:
A single adult…
A physically challenged person…
A new visitor…
A divorced dad…
A staff member…
A person just diagnosed with cancer…
By Aaron Bjorklund
