Good morning, friends.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 9:36, “Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which translated means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.”
The bible study that I led back in college was made up of some of the kindest, sweetest people I have known. And in that group of friends and best friends were some characters who picked up a nickname or two along the way. One girl we called “Nekot,” like the snack cracker. Another was lovingly referred to as “Wedge,” a tip of the hat to Star Wars and a distortion of her real name, Wendy. One guy was “Hands,” because he was notorious for dropping the ball whenever we threw it to him. And there was a teddy bear of a guy we called “Rocko,” for he carried himself as if he was all that and more, when in actuality he was humble and soft-spoken. In addition to these young adults, there was another honorary member, the elderly dad of my best friend, who also picked up a nickname. He was a gracious, welcoming dad who loved for us to hold our study at his house. He fed off the energy of our group, and he always made sure to hang out in the next room so as to listen in to all that was going on. And so, we called him our MVP – Most Visible Parent. But he also had a sweet spot for the fairer sex. He ate up the attention they gave him as he hung out with us, and he was sure to inquire as to their day immediately upon their arrival, even as the guys passed by invisible to him. So we also called this gentle saint MVP-T, which stood for Most Visible Preferential Treatment. There was never any question as to who he would engage whenever any guy walked in with his girlfriend.
We all can pick up monikers and become known for things. Even my other closest friend, Frank, we still call Steve, because a lady mistakenly greeted him as such when she first met him 35 years ago. But what other things are you known for, or becoming known for? The choices you make, and that includes the mindsets you adopt and the reactions you have, don’t just show themselves for a moment and then are gone. Rather, they express who you are or who you are becoming, and that matters infinitely more than what your name or nickname is. Being full of good works and acts of charity is a great trait to embody. What characteristics of Jesus are you known for?
As we seek Him today, work on making a name for yourself that points to everyone but yourself.
Have a special Wednesday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
