When you were growing up, who was your favourite aunt or uncle? What was it that made them your favourite?
Aunties are cool. They look like your mum, sound like your mum but aren’t as strict as your mum.
Everybody needs an auntie in their life. Somebody to spoil them now and then. Somebody that you can have a good laugh with and watch late night TV together with.
Now I’m not going to leave the fella’s out so having an uncle is also a great thing, somebody you can rough and tumble with. The one you can give a punch to without any repercussions.
Do you know that you can be an aunt/uncle without any biological ties? Such an auntie for me was a lady called Sis Pamela Spring. I never realised as a child, but she was amazing!
She was a comb your hair softly auntie, teach you how to make bakes auntie, tell you oral stories auntie, watch the boxing match late auntie, make pizzas and go to the park auntie, teach you Bible stories auntie, buy you ice cream auntie, teach you scriptures auntie, make delicious coconut drops auntie, teach you songs auntie, tell you riddles auntie, tell you off auntie, sleep in bed together auntie, plenty- a- trick up her sleeve auntie, press your clothes auntie, artistic auntie, sing harmoniously auntie, teach you to wash clothes on a wash board auntie, press your hair auntie, have a laugh auntie. And, I could go on.
Who was your ‘Aunt/Uncle’? Think about them for a moment, thank God for the input they had in your life.
Sis Spring was selfless, eccentric and giving. She had a lot of love to give and she greatly enriched the lives of those around her. She is now resting in the Lord and I will be ever grateful for the input she had in my own and many others lives. I owe it to her to replicate was she has done in my life to those around me.
The well-known African proverbs states, it takes a village to raise a child. We are relational people it’s not just about you and your family, share the love!
I’ve just ended a weekend with my mentee and we had quite a nice time together. We entered the kitchen to cook a roast dinner and we triumphed! My roast potatoes were about 90% close to the real deal, much different to my mash potato, oil slush combination that I usually end up with.
Now there is certain patience that is required when working with children and young people. The enrichment is sometimes not evident straight away and sometimes takes years to mature. You can liken it to a child saving account that you can deposit into, but can’t withdraw from until the child reaches a certain age.
Now Sis Spring was one of a kind but you can start small. In my wider church family there was a lady called Sis Rose, whenever I would see her, without fail she would have a pack of sweets for my brothers and sisters.
Sweets and children is a combination for friendship building and bridging the gap between the young and old.
How special would you feel? Somebody was thinking about you during the week and took the time and effort to buy you a pack of sweets! Maybe even the odd £1 here and there. There is something very special about getting some extra pocket money.
Take a risk, take them out. Start small, maybe just the park or to Mcdonalds. Then, as the relationship builds maybe they can spend longer periods of time with you.
Sweets and McDonalds might not work with teenagers/young people. How about a small conversation about how things are getting on for them? Are you able to help them in any way? Even in the giving of your time or even to say you are praying for them and care for their spiritual wellbeing?
We reap what we sow (Galations 6:7), what better privilege then sowing in to the next generation?
I pray that God shows you the young men/women and children that you are surrounded by, that you must begin to impact in 2015.
Who will you be an ‘aunt/uncle’ to from now on?
lightinsightbymj 