Who's In Your Wheelbarrow?

Given April 22, 2006
Recently I attended a conference on Early Childhood Education at the local college and heard a wonderful speaker who brought up several good points. Although he was speaking about how we treat children in school and as parents, I found myself saying "Amen" to many of his comments.

One of them was the picture of us walking a tight rope pushing a wheel barrow and the question was, "Who wants to ride in my wheel barrow?" Well, to trust someone enough to let them push you across a tight rope in a wheelbarrow is true trust. You have to have laid the groundwork and portrayed yourself as someone who can be trusted before anyone will get in.

This reminds me of the scripture, " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16". People are watching us and forming opinions about us; our light is shining. If we're witnessing to someone, (asking them into our wheelbarrow), and they've seen our negative light, they won't get in. This brother even asked, "Would your kids or spouse get in?". It's something to think about.

And, he also reminded us that we often will only invite the clean, good smelling, "acceptable" types into our wheelbarrow. Shame on us!