Thanks For The Bookmarks
The other morning I was reading from a devotional book that I hadn’t used for a while. As I opened it to a new page, I noticed I’d left something to remind me where I’d read the last time It was a bookmark of sorts, but merely one of those leftover picture Christmas cards from some friends in our past.
They were nearby neighbors who we still connected with here and there updating news about friends and acquaintances we shared years before. Nonetheless, they were and still are a valued part of our story.
However, I was also reminded of many others who’d been significant “bookmarks” in my growth, marriage, family, ministry and life in general over the years. I was thankful again for their influences, examples, encouragements and help that had unquestionably been key forces on trajectory of my life.
And at times, when my direction got off course, distracted or detoured, these bookmarks were often who God used to return me to true north, to walking in truth or keeping my eyes and focus on the right way. They no doubt caused me to think and appreciate what Philippians 4:8 says are the best thoughts and attitudes: Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, whatever is excellent or praiseworthy.
I was reminded that we all need other people marking segments of our lives. That’s why Paul thanked the Ephesians, among others, when he said in Ephesians 1:16, “I do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers.” He knew he needed helpful and wise people in his story. And later in 4:25, he writes, “Let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”
We all need people bookmarks within our life pages, individuals and couples who influenced us for good, help us continue growing, to keep our priorities straight, to apply truth principles from God’s Word to everyday life and to literally walk out our faith not just talk about it.
So a couple of nudges for us all. First, I want to encourage you and me to keep thanking God for these bookmarks, past and present. Some of these influencers may not be alive, but we can still value them and perhaps share our appreciation with one or more of their family members.
For those influencers still around, what if we called them, wrote them a note or email (notes are better), took them to coffee or dinner and told how much we value their part in our story. The ideas and limits for each encounter are ours to discern, but I guarantee you’ll make their day.
Second, there are likely some bookmarks who were NOT positive ones. You wish they had never joined the pages of your life’s novel. The good news is that we can let their influence go and embrace where we’ve come today.
We have much to be thankful for and with God’s help overcame some big-time adversity. In other words those negative chapters, though real, aren’t the last chapter of our story. Instead give thanks that their influence has no power over us anymore though it may still influence us now and then.
Third, remember that we might be one of those positive memories in someone else’s story, whether it’s been affirmed already or not. We can still help write uplifting chapters for others if we’ll stay available, pray and look for opportunities to help (first dominoes) and keep modeling what it means to follow Jesus.
Others may not realize our impact right away, but the rewards here or in Heaven someday will be worth it. And life will take on new meaning and value, something we all want, isn’t it? Psalm 57:2, “I cry out to God who fulfills His purpose for me.”
In fact, we just might just play a major role in shaping the direction of someone else’s life. If we think about it, that realization could pretty much change our day. And our story.
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