Role Reversal

Saturday my husband made plans for us to cook out with our neighbors at the fire pit that the men built where all our yards meet. It has become a real source of bonding and relaxation that began out of a need to burn all the twigs that fell during last year's ice storm. Several of our neighbors are bilingual and I get a lot of fun practice with my eight years of grade school Spanish that had all but left me.


Especially last weekend, when friends of one of the neighbors came to visit and ended up playing all day with my kids. It was particularly joyous because my children had each spent the morning wishing for their regular friends, none of whom were home. So this woman's four children and my three had a wonderful time enjoying the typical activities of Springtime. They played basketball and picked flowers and played in the construction dirt piles and strolled baby dolls down the street and rode bikes - for the first time - EVER.


I couldn't believe it as I heard the children excitedly celebrate getting to ride my children's bicycles! They range in age from 4 to 11. Two boys and two little girls. Mostly well behaved. (Typical kids spending an entire day together.) The camp fire they were VERY familiar with though.

Then there was another hint. One of the little girls, age 7, came inside to "do her business," and my oldest son and I could BARELY CONTAIN our laughter when she sang AT THE TIPPY-TOP OF HER LUNGS for FIFTEEN STRAIGHT minutes on the commode! IT. WAS. HILARIOUS! So adorable! About the third verse of "It's A Small World" I realized that she was stalling so long (no pun intended) because she was impressed with the echo in the bathroom. I don't think she often hears the acoustics of a tiled room.


When the sweet young lady left the room, I went in to check that the toilet had been flushed and the seat put down and I discovered that she had put all of her toilet paper, covered in "stuff" into the trash can rather than the toilet. My immediate reaction of "OH, Stuff-That-The-Toilet-Paper-Was-Covered-In!" was immediately replaced by this humbling thought. "They must not have a flushing toilet at home.......and they have never ridden bikes. And they know all about cooking over an open flame." Putting two and two together I realized that they were probably VERY very financially poor. (Our neighbors later confirmed this as true.)


Later when they left to go home, my daughter approached me to tattle that my youngest son had given away his Leapster to them. He had just received it a couple of months before Christmas and was given several new games as Christmas presents. I chided him for giving away such an expensive toy without asking. Then I was humbled again. Here my six year old had seen a need, a desperate need, and fulfilled it. He didn't ask my husband or I if we would replace his game if he gave it away. He didn't stop to interview the kids about whether they would take good care of the game if he made such a sacrifice. He just perceived a need for kindness and did it. I felt so shamed for telling him he needed to ask my permission. He did just what we teach him, but somehow I missed recognizing it in the moment. I went back and apologized and assured him he did EXACTLY the right thing and made sure to tell him that Jesus was proud of him and I was too.


Then I fell to my knees and asked forgiveness for needing the example rather than giving it.

Mathew Chapter 25

35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. I Timothy 4:12