The Battle of the Jacket

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. Ephesians 6:7 NIV

“I don’t know why I have to wear this heavy jacket,” my son complained as we sat in the car waiting for an appearance of the school bus. I glanced at the digital readout of temperature outside – 42 degrees. “It’s cold today,” I told him.

“I’m not cold,” he countered, “and I don’t like this jacket. I don’t even want to go to school. All I do is work all day, and it’s not fun.” He yanked at the zipper and slouched in his seat. Thinking for a moment, I said, “Colin, do you know what the Bible says? It says you should do everything you do as if you were doing it for God. Not for man. That means if you were doing a math paper at school, when you finished, you would hand it to God instead of your teacher.”

“AWESOME!” Colin chimed from the back seat starting to perk up. “I bet you would double check all your answers before you turned it in to God, wouldn’t you?”

“Oh, yeah,” he replied with his eyebrows arched. “Well, the Bible tells us that’s how we should do everything. Daddy does his job at work like he is doing it for God, and I do my job as a mommy as if I were doing it just for God. That means I take my responsibilities seriously, including making sure you are dressed appropriately. So, I make you wear a heavy jacket because I am doing my job as if unto the Lord. Do you understand?”

Colin was silent, and we sat watching the school bus draw near. I opened the door for Colin to hop out. He paused for a second outside the van, looking at me. “I get turning in your math to God, but I don’t understand how that has anything to do with me wearing this big jacket to school.” And he ran to climb on the bus.

I wasn’t sure if I won the battle of the jacket, but perhaps, just perhaps, Colin would give a peak performance that day at school. Maybe, he would do it for God.

Are you unhappy about the things you’ve been doing? Has contentment seemed just out of your reach? Do everything you do as if unto the Lord, and see if that doesn’t add a special touch to your day.

Dear Lord, help me to commit my works to you, today. May all I say and do be pleasing in your sight. Let my fervor for this day be contagious, and allow my love for you to shine through. Amen.

2 Responses to The Battle of the Jacket
  1. Kimberly
    April 26, 2009 | 8:40 pm

    Great reminder! 🙂
    Love,
    K

  2. Rapunzel Hutchinson
    April 28, 2009 | 1:24 pm

    Carol,

    I am a friend of your mother’s who told me to check out your webpage. I am so proud of you and your commitment to walk wtih God. I was inspired by the jacket story, because it is a reminder to always do my best. We sometimes get complacent with everyday things and lose sight of the real reason to always do things well. Thanks so much1