AS A STUDENT
The example of young leadership, as modeled by the staff, is one of the unique elements found in TeenPact. When I learned how young the staff were at my class, I realized that I needed to stop wasting my teenage years and seriously start pursuing the things of God and the plans He had for me. When I read in 1 Corinthians about putting away childish things, I am reminded of how TeenPact encouraged me in this important transition.
AS A STAY AT HOME MOTHER…
When I was in my teens, I thought that much of my life would be dedicated to civic involvement for the glory of God. I spent much of my free time volunteering for campaigns, discussing policy, and wearing pearls and heels.
Fast forward 10 years. I’m married to a professional engineer whose line of work is not directly political or civic. We’ve volunteered on a few campaigns since getting married, but with each little one God has blessed us with, we’ve done less and less volunteering in the political realm. Frankly, my life looks more like the base-line dutiful citizen, rather than the cutting-edge conservative I thought I would always be.
The suit jackets have disappeared from my closet. I no longer walk through “halls of power.” Instead, I walk through the halls of my home picking up discarded socks. What happened? Did I lose my real self when I married the “average Joe” and had children? Have I settled for less than I was trained for, meant for?
No. My mother used to tell me: “There is no waste in God’s economy.” Whatever you are learning and doing now is meant to shape you more into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Whatever duties you faithfully fulfill now will shape you into the person God intended you to be.
So, no matter if God continues your path in the civic realm, or calls you elsewhere, be faithful. Own your work. Be the best at what you have been given to do. For many TeenPact Alumni, that means loving our spouse and our children. For all of us, that means doing our civic duty to be informed voters and be faithful members of a church. I suppose it looks a little boring from the outside, but when you are striving to master your God-given profession, there is never a dull moment.
Don’t buy the world’s lie that to cast off your duty is to find your real self. Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and your faithful sowing will reap a harvest you could not imagine.
