Back in the early 80’s, two seasoned song writers were struggling to write; taking a break, they walked across the street to the local diner to have lunch. The waitress seemed out of sorts and almost sad as she attempted to take their order. They were already tired and just needed a reprieve, yet they were met with indifference and a bad attitude. Looking around the room, they began to comment on others who seemed to be sad, complacent and overall out of sorts with life. One of the guys shook his head and said, “You know, people need the Lord,” and taking a napkin and a ballpoint pen, the words took flight and an amazing song, PEOPLE NEED THE LORD, was written.
People need the Lord; such simple, yet potentially life-changing words.
Years ago I tagged some young teens as “mean girls” who were hurting one of my kids. I was protective of “my” kids; the teen parents who wanted and needed others to come alongside and guide them one tiny step at a time. Judgement; condemnation; they had huge doses of that. Love, truth, kindness…..not so much .
I well remember the day I rounded the corner of a high school hallway to see three girls who had hemmed in one of my students. “How could anyone give up their baby?” echoed as their vicious words caused tears to run down her face. Seeing me, their attack ended abruptly as they made a fast get-a-way. She was left with their words carving another deep scar into her already damaged heart. For me, there were always endless pieces of broken humanity to try to put back together.
Like so many her life had been paved from childhood with hard lessons, broken promises and a reason to become angry and bitter. I watched her persevere through one of the hardest choices of her young life. She graduated at the top of her class and continued to move forward instead of camping in regrets. She even laughed again. I haven’t seen her since her high school days but I think about her and pray for her to live the life Jesus died for her to live.
However, I have some regrets about that day in the hallway so long ago. I wish I had run after those girls and had a meaningful conversation that possibly would have helped them understand what they didn’t know.
In the Bible, in Titus 2:3-4, Paul encourages older women to “teach what is good….and so train the young women.” At the time I was in my mid thirty’s and I did not consider myself “old” or “older” yet to the teens I worked with I was old enough to be a mom and even their mom.
Time and the rear view mirror reveals way too much. I focused on my precious students who needed me; who depended on me. I saw anyone who endangered my kids as the enemy. The one question I couldn’t then and cannot now for the life of me resolve is……why does anyone choose to be mean to others? What brings out that kind of poisonous attitude?
Once again the answer is relatively simple; people need the Lord.
I saw the opportunities to speak into the students for whom I was responsible; they each had a special place in my heart. However, I often missed other opportunities. Even though I tagged some girls as “mean girls” they equally needed me to speak love into them. I know it is hard loving people who seem to want to hurt us but I believe what Joyce Meyer says: hurting people hurt people. So there it is. Everyone wants to love and be loved even when they spew hate and venom. We all need the Lord and the kind of love He brings.
Love, prayer, a smile, random acts of kindness…..should be in everyone’s tool belt. Think before you speak; we never generally know the back story of a person’s life.
As an older woman I continually have amazing opportunities to speak love, kindness, and encouragement into the lives of others. Amazingly, people tend to respectfully listen; age does have its advantages.
I missed opportunities when I was younger to respond to people in a kinder way. Time is precious, opportunities are golden, and I want to present a Jesus viewpoint to all I encounter. There are plenty of opinions and opportunities to pass judgement, but the bottom line will always be…..people need the Lord.
Especially me.
