On My Father’s Side

Today’s post is a short inspiration from Linda. Linda has been a family friend for years.  Every recollection of her is one that involves seeing her face light up as she ministers to children.  She’s spent her life doing this-all over the world.  Read on for inspiration to light up your neck of the woods.

The Mission Field

These days my mission field is paved with old asphalt.  Its homes are little old houses with bold red numbers preparing it for demolition. I’m on mission here in the ‘land of the Free’ and yet I’m surrounded by a place that’s accepted the bondage of poverty and hopelessness.

These days, my mission field is the state capitol in my home state of Mississippi.  The same Mississippi that many times takes that un-coveted spot of number 50 in national surveys.   (But, we have been number ONE a few times.)

Though I’m a member of a traditionally white church in a traditionally segregated state, we’re striving to see beyond color and instead focus on instilling hope and joy in a place where hoplessness and anger can so easily thrive.

For the past eleven years, we meet children and young people every Monday night for ‘Bible Club.’  For a few hours, the world seems right.  Kids are all smiles as they sing, listen (sometimes) to Bible Study, play together, and enjoy a snack.

The Conversation

Several years back, we were having Bible Club at another church in the area.

Side note: Though we differ from this church in denomination and traditional race majority, we’ve been able to partner together in an amazing way as we turn our eyes away from our differences and toward our common goal.  It’s been an amazing thing to be a part of.

One night at this location, my sister and parents were there serving and teaching alongside me.   I asked my Dad for some help me and a couple of boys overheard me call him, “Daddy.”

• One said, “Ms. Linda, is that your Daddy?”  I replied, “Yes, that is my Daddy and over there is my Mom.  And see that lady? She’s my sister.”
• He replied, “That lady is NOT your sister.”
• I continued the argument, “Oh yes she is.”
• But he and a few others kept asking questions.  For some reason, they couldn’t believe that the two of us were related.
• finally, another boy asked, “Is she your sister on your FATHER’S SIDE?”
• I laughed out loud because I had never been asked that before.  I thought for a second and replied, “She is my sister on both sides.”

The Application

This story has been running through my soul every since. In Acts 17, Paul stands up to speak some very religious folks who don’t believe in the Hebrew God, nor do they know of Jesus.  And he tells them,“We are all God’s offspring,”

The truth of the Gospel is that every place we step, whether across the street, across the city, or across the globe, we are always bumping into people related to us on our Father’s side.

The connection to all people everywhere through God should compel us to see others differently, to care when strangers hurt, and to reach out in familial love to people who may not be just like us.

We are on this mission of sharing love, peace, joy with all people of every land beginning at home and reaching over every boundary because the Creator has deemed every one worthy of redemption and life.   We are, after all, God’s offspring.  We are brothers and sisters on our Father’s side.

To read more about Linda’s ministry, go here.

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