Maintenance Procedures

My youngest daughters' birthday is today and last night had me thinking about the kind of woman she will become.

Such things that come to mind... the expectations people can have about the end result of a situation or a project while not knowing the work, cost and process of what it will take to get there, let alone what is feasible and reasonable in terms of getting that result.

Billy Chrystal's character, Harry Burns in When Harry Met Sally describes this as high-maintenance. Low-maintenance people take care of business, do a great job, typically have a pleasant demeanor and generally speaking, don't leave people in a frenzy when they exit.

High-maintenance people can do that. Yes, they'll take care of business. Yes, they'll do a great job. But the expectations, the drive, the conflict and tension that arises in the process of getting stuff done... requires lots of conversations and lots of work. Lots of attention = high-maintenance.

The funny part of the conversation is when Harry jokes to Sally, that she is the worst kind...high-maintenance, but thinks she is low-maintenance.

As I told my oldest daughter a number of months ago... you be the best person and friend you can be. Not everyone will like you, but there's no reason for you to live in such a way that you give them reason to NOT like you. If they have a problem with you, let that be their problem and not something you've caused.

Where am I going with all this? This generation of parenting and raising kids is getting tough. Not that its never been in the past, but culture and society and technology is moving so fast. There are things that are exactly the same and things that are drastically different.

And I for one, can't do it on my own. For the life stuff. For the spiritual stuff. For the everyday stuff. For the eternal stuff.

Pray, this #youthPastorWednesday, for those in the ministry of kids and youth. Pray for wisdom and guidance as they come alongside parents and teachers to partner in the raising of healthy, balanced and well-grounded, well-rounded kids. Pray that solid foundations of faith be established early on. Pray over the friendships and the relationships that kids have and will encounter... for the opportunities they will have to share their faith and the message of Jesus Christ.

Should anyone ever not like us, may it be for our faith and not something superficial like the clothes we wear or the car we drive, nor should it be something that be changed, such as the drama and personality that leaves casualties in its wake rather than bringing people along in the journey.

We need your help today, O God. We call on you. For your glory and honor.

- PNC

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