When I was fresh out of college, I took a job as a full-time youth pastor at a Chinese church in San Francisco. Talk about a culture shock for me. I learned so much more from them than they probably did from me. The teenagers were so driven by their parents to do well in school and become successful. I admired their discipline and respect for their parents. I had never met kids who loved to praise God and spend time in worship like I did with this group.
As a new youth pastor, I was uncertain as to the impact that I could have on their lives. I think that if only I knew then what I know now I would do things so differently. I guess it’s that way in most things.
I had the incredible opportunity to go to a wedding this weekend of one of these kids. It was such an awesome blessing seeing so many people from the church that I pastored at 16 years ago. As my husband and I were leaving the reception, I ran into one of my former youth group girls. She said something to me that I hope I will never forget. She said, “You know, I remember one time when you took me out to McDonalds and we shared a bag of french fries. You just let me talk and it made such an impact in my life. Teenagers really have no one that will just listen to them. That’s why I try to do that to others now.” I was blown away. I had no idea that something so simple would be remembered by her 16 years later.
My message to myself and others today is to look for opportunities to just love people. Buy them some “french fries” and just sit and listen to them. It is through this simple gesture that they feel important, that they are valued and that someone cares for them. Maybe this is what Jesus meant when he said in Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
