“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”

My wife has been “persistently persistent” in her “encouragement” for me to watch the 2011 award winning film, The Help. We recently sat down together to watch the movie. It was a moving film. There were so many thought provoking moments. Moments that would make you dig down a little deeper inside of yourself and say “Wow!”

One of the central characters, Aibileen Clark (played by Viola Davis) was an African American maid taking care of a small, white, upper class, 4 year-old girl. Her connection with that little one was certainly a high point of the picture. Day after day, Aibileen would share with this little girl the same thing. She would get right in this child’s face, nose to nose, and repeat her statement over and over again. She was reinforcing the teaching with the understanding that one day she would not be there. One day the little girl would have to reach down inside of herself through moments of discouragement and despair and recall these powerful words.

Her words rang out again and again. “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”

This scenario reminded me of God’s willingness to get down with His children, nose to nose, to teach them in His own simplistic way. God, too, wants to reinforce similar truths. Truths that He tells us over and over and over again

“You is loved. Love others. Love those that are mean to you.”

• How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1)

• This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” (1 John 3:11)

• But I tell you who hear me; Love your enemies, do good to those that hate you….” (Luke 6:37)

Three powerful principles for each of us to remember as we face the world each day.

“You is loved, Love others, Love those that are mean to you.”

 

Out With the “Old” in With the New……

A couple of weeks ago I was given a copy of Billy Graham’s latest book, Nearing Home.  It was a great read.  I have admired and respected Graham for many years for his integrity and passion for sharing the gospel.  Now in the last years of his life, we are witnessing the desire to finish well.  Someone has stated that “our focus will determine our finish.”  If that be the case, Graham has a fantastic finish for his eyes are clearly on the Lord.

Early in his book, Graham states something very troubling to me.  I must admit that it was such a burden to me that it almost overshadowed the rest of the content.  He states:

“The Old Testament is filled with remembrances of the old.  It even says, “Remember the former things of old” (Isaiah 46:9).  Society today may not like the word old, yet young people pay a small fortune for jeans that look old.  Collectors put the highest value on antiques because they are…..old!  Others buy old clunkers, restore them, and proudly drive down the highway showing off….the old.  The days when the aged were admired, looked up to, and respected are gone.” (Page 6)

There is probably a tremendous amount of truth in that rationale.  That does not mean I have to like it.  I believe that much of the stability and resiliency of our society come from our “unheralded” seniors. They have much to offer. However senior adults are an underused and overlooked commodity in our society.

What is the answer to this dilemma?  Is it teaching our children to place a greater value on “the old?”  Is it placing more emphasis on educating the young and median adults on the real value of seniors?

Encourage a senior today!  They are to be honored in all we do!