Influence

"...but with hope that as your faith grows, we shall be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you..." II Corinthians 10.15

This is a one verse that I have been looking at as I prepare for a 'talk' I will be doing in May. One aspect of that talk will be about our influence on the lives of others. Is our influence for good or ill? Do we look like Jesus, or the world? Am I influencing or trying to impress? These are all questions I keep asking myself as I walk this trodden path.

This week, I have been subbing for my sister and her husband, at the Christian school where they teach. One of the things I have asked of the Lord is that I would in some small way be an influence on these kids, that they would see Jesus in me. I hope they have, being that I had to show them the mean side of Mrs. V, when I had to come down on them for continual lack of volume control. Is that what they will remember this week, the crazy sub who lost her cool?

There have been a couple of the students who have made an influence on me, I will call them C and D. C is a tall, gangly, pimply 6th grader who has Autism. As you can guess, he is not much included by the students, though they are polite enough to him. He is a smart young man, and once he understands the pattern of what he is to do on a worksheet, he does well. He is awkward and shy, but is unfazed by it. He goes along his way, with joy, and a literal pep in his step. He has a life long struggle ahead of him, because of his Autism. In a way, I hope he never realizes it will be a struggle, as I don't want him to ever lose his joy and delight. By his conduct and countenance, he has reminded me, my lot in life is a drop in the bucket, and that joy is always to be had.

D is a tall, pudgy, beamy faced 6th grader. He is talkative, bright, and seems to be a leader in the class, yet he has a very compassionate heart. On more than one occasion this week, he has offered to work with C on class work, or has included him to be with the other boys. One project C wanted to be the scribe for the group, because of his Autism, he quickly became overwhelmed with the task. D caught on, asked him kindly if he wanted to continue to write, or if he wanted one of the others to do it. C relinquished the task. D's kindness, and discernment floored me. He was looking out for the other guy. He has reminded me that though I often feel like the odd man out, the wall flower, there will always be someone else who needs me to come along side, to include, to encourage.

Have I made an influence in this small sphere of students, in the task I have been called to this week? I don't know. I do know my heart has been convicted and encouraged all at the same time by these two boys, who are totally unaware that they, by their faith, have 'enlarged' me within their own little spheres. I reckon that's how it is suppose to work.