By: Pastor Tom
Recently I was cleaning out my room. There were a few boxes stacked in a corner and I wondered what could be in them. They had been there untouched for some time. The boxes had no markings or lists as to indicate what they contained. I took them one by one, and pulling open the once sealed flaps of cardboard, I found a variety of mostly meaningless things.
But, there I discovered two items from years gone by that I had neither seen nor thought about in a long time. The first item was a post card mailed to me by a mother of two children. She and her children attended the church where I served as an interim pastor for some time. I received the card a few weeks after I had left that congregation and it simply said, “thanks Pastor Tom, you made going to church fun. Because of you my children love church “. Though I had forgotten about that card, I know why I kept it, I held on to it because it told me I had made a difference. I played an important role in her family, especially in the lives of her children. Though I wasn’t aware of it, I helped shape two young lives for a place and a role in God’s kingdom. That is priceless.
As I dug through the box I found another forgotten treasure. This one was from a 6 year old boy, Zach. I served as interim pastor in his church too. This young farm boy always met me at the church door with a great big “hi Pastor Tom”. I had visited at his farm, toured the sheds of chickens, pigs, and goats he and his family kept. He told me about chicken-care, collecting eggs and all manner of things important to a 6 year old. When I attended the county fair he gave me a guided tour of all the exhibits and showed me where kids and adults displayed their projects, animals and even baked goods for competition and a prize. During the two years I served Zach’s church as pastor, we became friends.
The last Sunday I was serving at his church Zach came to say goodbye. There were no tears in his eyes, to the contrary he had an enormous smile and an excitement that was about to bubble over like a can of Sprite all shookup. He was carrying a plastic bag. “Here Pastor Tom, this is for you, some of my special things, they are for you.”
Putting my hand in the bag I drew out a treasure chest, like a very small plastic suitcase with a clear plastic top and a zipper to close it and keep the tiny treasures safe. I unzipped it and beheld Zach’s shared treasures: a tiny case containing a shiny piece of gold colored plastic; a very small erasure with the picture of an owl; a round trimmed piece of wood; a stone; a little plastic blue car with 23 written on it’s top; a small bag of sun flower seeds printed with these words, Love Is Grown Where Seeds Are Sown.
Zach’s gift , small, thoughtfully assembled, little monetary value, but PRICELESS. The message is powerful. We make a difference as we go through life. Though many may not be aware , we leave a mark. There is an aroma designating where we have been. When we love a young one, or another of any age we communicate a lasting message. We plant the seed of Hope and possibility, the truth that each one is of infinite worth.
I treasure Jesus words, ” unless you become like a little child, you will not be able to see the kingdom of heaven.” And in that you have done it to the least of these you have done it unto me.”
Though the years have passed this old guy is still impacted by a few words from an appreciative mother, and the gifts of a young friend . I gave a little something, I pray it still flowers. What they gave blossoms today as you read this in a distant land. It is good to remember the little really can become much, and Love is grown where seeds are sown.
Thanks for listening.
