On Love and Faithfulness

(Katie) I've spent the last two days interacting with and watching parents move their freshman children into college. On one level, its pure chaos. 600 students moving all of their belongings into a building simultaneously. But beneath the surface of Room Condition Forms, bed pegs, boxes, and room keys, I am struck by the love and faithfulness of parents. My parents, like so many I observed today, moved heavy boxes up flights of stairs, made multiple trips to Target, lofted bunk beds, executed the perfect furniture set up, and gave that essential impromptu lesson on how to do laundry =-). Unfortunately, I recognized myself in some of the students who failed to notice and appreciate these simple acts of faithfulness. How often do we fail to see and appreciate the faithfulness of those around us?

Faithfulness. What does it mean? Do we even value it in our fast-paced, image oriented culture? I understand faithfulness as "being there"- when and where you are needed in order to do what has to be done. Faithfulness is not flashy. It rarely gets lifted up. It is often not observable or even interesting. But "being there"- is something that my parents have been for me my entire life, regardless of circumstances. Faithfulness is incalculable and immeasurable. It is more valuable than diamonds. And, "being there" is of high value to God, even if it isn't to us.

Today, in the midst of the move-in chaos, I found myself rejoicing and giving thanks for faithful, sweaty parents. Although, like all of us, they aren't perfect, they can, in their role, point us to God by faithfully "being there" when needed. And when faithfulness occurs, my Spirit rejoices with gratitude because its rare and right, revealing the heart of God. And today, I am reminded once again how grateful I am for my parents' "being there" for me, freshman year college move-in and over the past 27 years of my life.

Who do you need to thank for "being there?"