What is Good?

This time last year I was driving home from work, and as I turned into my neighborhood I noticed something bright yellow up in the trees. Watching for oncoming traffic, I squinted to see into the distance and started to question if my eyes were lying to me. Is that a leaf? Are the leaves already beginning to change color? It can’t be! Why does it seem like autumn sneaks up on us every year? We are enjoying the sunny 85 degree days, and it’s as if overnight fall comes in like a mighty wind. Here comes school days, Friday night football games, sweaters (that hopefully still fit after all those hot dogs and burgers), and a blessed routine. 

Last year brought quite the change in the Dangerfield home, as our oldest started her freshman year of High School. I remember her first day did not go as I initially anticipated. I expected a combination of nerves and excitement from my daughter, but we ended up with a confident kid and a mom in tears as she realized her daughter only had four years left in their home before adulthood would sneak in - just like that dreaded yellow leaf. Uffda. To say it was a rough day would have been an understatement.

Someone asked me the other day, “Do we cry more as we get older?” We had been discussing a variety of things - walking with Jesus, our families, and wisdom we’ve gained over the years - and I had to answer with an honest “yes.” I remember praying that first morning of school, asking God to help my kids connect well with teachers and other students, that learning would go smoothly, and wanting them to grasp the fear of the Lord really is the beginning of wisdom. I looked across at the passenger seat of our car that morning only a few hours later and saw this young woman blossoming before me. With tears trickling down my cheeks I was reminded of my fervent prayers over her nearly 15 years on this earth, that she would seek the Lord with all her heart and live a life set on serving others. As a result, here I was watching the answers to those prayers already beginning to unfold. All these years it was never my goal to have a ‘good kid.’ I know a lot of parents just hope once their children move into adulthood, they live their life as ‘good’ people. They want them to wait patiently in lines, be truthful, show responsibility, and be kind. But isn’t life so much more than being ‘good?’ These surely have their place, and should be fruit in our lives, but if we are only ‘good’ then how are we to live out the Great Commission? As followers of Jesus, he has given us all authority to “go and make disciples of all the nations,” and teach these new disciples to go and do the same thing (Matthew 28:19-20). If we are only good, we are not disciple-makers. 

We are called to be more than just someone who believes in God. In fact, we are called to be more than just someone who marks ‘Christian’ on a form. We can believe in him, believe he died on a cross and rose again, and believe he loves us, but if we are not living in a way that intentionally carries out the Great Commission I must ask this question: Are we following him? For example, look at how a duckling adorably follows their mama as she takes them to both food and safety. A duckling doesn’t just follow its mother, it’s leading the duckling behind him as well. I remember driving down the highway this past spring and having to slam on my breaks because of a duck and her seven little ducklings behind her. I about melted in my seat that day as I was warmly reminded of how I should not just carry the title ‘Christian,’ I should also be leading someone else - a disciple. Scripture is filled with reminders of how we should disciple others, and not just hoard the Good News for ourselves. People like Philip in John chapter one and the woman at the well in John chapter four remind us that the story of the Gospel needs to be shared with those around us, whether it’s a co-worker or a classmate. A disciple is someone who is learning to obediently follow and serve Jesus, while raising someone up to do the same. My prayer for my kids has been to learn how to obediently follow and serve Jesus, and share him with their friends at school. They can be ‘good’ as they hold doors for people, help others with understanding assignments, sit with a lonely kid at lunch, and speak kindness to those who spew out harsh words, but I also want them to make disciples. We could probably say the same for ourselves, eh?