Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Fried Bird

I had just walked in the kitchen and placed my grocery bags on the counter when I lost all power to the house. I immediately called the electric company and Tom showed up within minutes. It didn’t take long to fix the problem, so I asked him what had caused the power failure. He said that a Starling had stuck it’s beak where it didn’t belong and blew the fuse at the top of the electric pole. After he left, I searched for the fried bird and, sure enough, his feet were curled up and he was dead as a doornail. I thought of putting up a sign that read: “At the bottom of this pole lies a big, big bird.” (You’d have to be my age or older to remember the #1 country hit, “Big Bad John” by Jimmy Dean.)

Starlings have a bad reputation because they peck and ruin fruit in the orchards, get sucked into aircraft engines, and their poop is corrosive to buildings. These birds are annoying nuisances because they get into other people’s business and cause a great deal of harm. We humans have a tendency to stick our noses into other people’s business too. Usually we’re just trying to help, but oftentimes it backfires and a good relationship becomes strained. Just because we have an opinion doesn’t mean we should share it — some things are just better left unsaid.

God’s Word gives Christ followers some excellent guidelines about minding our own business. “Stay calm, mind your own business; do your own job. You’ve heard all this from us [Paul, Silas, and Timothy] before, but a reminder never hurts” (1 Thessalonians 4:11 MSG). If we stay out of other people’s affairs we’ll have less stress in our lives. I admit there’s a fine line between loving an individual enough to speak wisdom into his/her life and butting in when we shouldn‘t. We must be led by the Holy Spirit in this matter, and also remember that prayer changes people when words of concern or advice can’t.

“Suppose you suffer. Then it shouldn’t be because you are a murderer or a thief. It shouldn’t be because you do evil things. It shouldn’t be because you poke your nose into other people’s business” (1 Peter 4:15 NIRV). When we respect other’s boundaries and privacy, we can steer clear of unnecessary drama. Let’s remember that we invested 18 to 22 years to love and teach our now-adult children. Cutting the apron strings and tossing the training wheels enables them to be independent and find their God-given place in life.

“Also, they [young widows] learn to be lazy by going from house to house. They are not only lazy, but they also become gossips and busybodies, talking about things they shouldn’t” (1 Timothy 5:13 CEB). It’s simply a common courtesy not to blab other people’s business. Everyone needs to stay busy running their own life, not someone else’s.   I grew up watching the TV show, “Hee Haw” and I remember four goofy women singing this silly song: “Now, we’re not ones to go ‘round spreadin’ rumors. Why really, we’re just not the gossipy kind. Oh you’ll never hear one of us repeating gossip. So you better be sure and listen close the first time!”

“…we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business” (2 Thessalonians 3:11 NLT). If we work and take care of our personal responsibilities, we won’t have time to be curious about our friends’ business. Curious George was always getting into trouble because he was…too curious.

The Key: Keep your beak out of other people’s business so that nobody blows a fuse.

Friends for 50 years delivered the eulogy of my son-in-law’s dad, Paul.  At last month’s celebration-of-life, we learned much about this man.  From the time he was young, Paul sought adventure.  When he was seven years old, he discovered a Christmas present under his parents’ bed.  While they were at work, he opened it, found a bike, assembled it and rode around the block a few times.  When finished, he took the bike apart and placed it back in its box, placing it exactly as he found it.

According to Steve, Paul’s friend, on Christmas morning, his parents were amazed at how quickly he assembled the bike. It was years before they knew their son’s secret. When Paul was 12, he decided to learn to drive, so when his parents were at work, he drove around town in one of their cars.  His dad became suspicious and placed a white mark on the tire so that, if Paul “borrowed” the car, the mark on the tire would end up in a different position and Paul would be busted.  Realizing his father’s tactic, Paul would drive home, jacked up the car and rotate the tire to the exact position in which he had found the white mark.

The stories were endless.  Trophies were awarded for races he won as a young adult (going over 200 mph) in the Bonneville Flats after teaching himself how to increase the power of his engine, and he and Steve rode their jet skis into the Hoover Dam tunnels where they found themselves at the base of the gigantic engines that ran the dam, clearly a dangerous no-no.

Following the funeral, many of us shared the same story: we had no idea Paul had done what we had just heard.  How was that possible?  We had known him for decades, yet we knew little about his life. We lost an incredible opportunity to hear, first-hand, about his crazy adventures and why he made the decisions he did.  His gutsiness was why he took risks and started his own, very successful company.

Relationships take work.  They require listening skills where questions are asked so that others have a chance to share their life.  I love hearing people’s stories, so what kept me from asking Paul about his?  My loss.

When asked the most important commandment, Jesus talked about one’s vertical relationship with God the Father; the horizontal relationship with our fellow man came in a close second.  Clearly, relationships are at the core of Christian living. Sadly, we now have entered a messed-up world where texting has taken over as the main method of correspondence.  You know, “How R U?”  Short and sweet.  Very few, face-to-face encounters.

Sure, we may text-ask someone’s opinion on a scripture or on politics or even about a cute meme we just sent, but true relationships are developed in person.  Around the dinner table.  On the front porch.  On a walk.  They take time.  They take commitment.  They take putting ourselves out.                                                                  \

Frequently, when I run into people, we end our short conversation with, “We have to get together soon.”  But I get busy and fail to follow through. I am short-changing the incredible possibilities for how God has wired people to bless each other when I do not make this happen.

There is one relationship we cannot afford to short-change, and that is ours with God.  Our daily strolls with God, where we set aside minutes each day to talk with Him, to listen to His guidance, to thank Him for our blessings, lets Him know He matters most of all.  I mean, He does…doesn’t He?

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Stinky Stuff

Suzie, a mom of six, came home from running a quick errand and noticed that the house seemed oddly quiet. When she peeked out the back window, she spotted all six of her kids squatting in a circle. As Suzie quietly approached them, she saw that the kids were enamored with six baby skunks. She screamed, “Quick, kids — RUN!” Each one grabbed a skunk and took off lickety-split. Obviously, Mom intended for the kids to leave the skunks and run for dear life.

If we’ve got stuff in our lives that stink, ask God to take it, and leave it with Him. Don’t play with it, carry it around, or baby it. God knows exactly what to do with stinky stuff, but you have to let him have it…for keeps. Sometimes life stinks for different reasons. Sometimes it’s not of our own making, e.g., health issues, financial setbacks, loss of job, economic challenges, etc. These are burdens to give to the Lord. But if our life stinks because it’s too full of appointments, over-commitments, unnecessary hassels, and time stealers, you’re the only person who can take charge of your own stinkin’ schedule. We can all benefit from making wise adjustments to obtain a more-balanced peaceful life.

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall” (Psalm 55:22 NLT). According to God’s Word, believers are supposed to take our burdens to the Lord and leave them there. We’re not supposed to scoop ‘em up and take ‘em back when we finish praying. When we don’t actually release our burdens when we pray, I wonder if God rolls His eyes and shakes His head.

Charles Tindley, a Methodist pastor, spoke significant words to one of his worried parishioners: “Put all your troubles in a sack, take ‘em to the Lord and leave ‘em there.” Later in 1916, Pastor Tindley used his own advice to pen the lyrics and music for the beloved gospel hymn entitled, “Leave it There.” The fourth verse and chorus follows: “When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on, and your body bends beneath the weight of care. He will never leave you then; He’ll go with you to the end. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. Leave it there, leave it there. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. “Pour out all your worries and stress upon Him and leave them there, for He always tenderly cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 TPT).

Anxiety and prayer are two great opposing forces in the Christian experience. “Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5 AMP).  We are told repeatedly in the Bible not to fret or have any anxiety or worries about anything. When we neglect to obey these scriptures, we end up with stinky thoughts of  negativity and worry which steals our peace and ruins our days and nights. Instead of sprinkling a stinky mind with baking soda, let’s actually do what we’re supposed to do. Give our burdens to the Lord, then whistle a happy tune and walk away.

The Key: God knows what to do with stinky stuff.  Do you?

If you have not heard of Steven Nederosik, you are in the majority.  My introduction to him came during the 2024 Paris Olympics when the U.S. men’s gymnastics team was vying for a medal, the last one being won in 2008.  The cameras kept showing a man, sitting alone, with eyes closed behind thick glasses, appearing to be taking a nap.  (He later shared that he was focusing.) For almost three hours, Nedoroscik sat on the sideline as his teammates performed routines for the first five events of the competition.

As his other teammates celebrated upon completing the events for which they had qualified (the floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar), Steven brought them water, gave high fives and cheered them on.  During delays, he played with a Rubik’s Cube.  (He can solve one in under 10 seconds.)  I found him quirky.

The 25-year-old American had the pressure-filled task of competing at the end of the team final in the only event for which he had qualified.  As journalist Whitney Fleming wrote, “And then, like Clark Kent turning into Superman, he took off his jacket, removed his glasses, and puffed out his chest—and HE KILLED IT!”  He scored an amazing 14.866 on his routine, securing a bronze medal for his team, and immediately became an internet sensation.

Previously referred to as the “goggles guy” for the sports glasses he wore while competing, he told The Washington Post why he went without them for this event: “It’s all feeling.  I see with my hands.”

Back up a few years.  Though a junior Olympic champion, Nedoroscik had only one college intrigued by his lone ability, the pommel horse. Penn State took the risk, and it was from there the future Olympian graduated with an electrical engineering degree.

Nedoroscik has strabismus, a condition where one eye is turned in a direction that’s different from the other.  In layman’s terms, his eyes are permanently dilated.  As Fleming ended her article, “There is no one way to success, there is no one way to do this life, and there is no one way to find your purpose.”

This young man did not let his handicap hinder him.  Nor did he quit when he realized he was not good enough to compete in various gymnastics’ styles.  He simply mastered what he did best.  And that cinched the bronze medal for the U.S. team.

God gave us all talents…some more than others. How easy it would have been for this oddball gymnast to quit when the odds were against him or envy his teammates who competed in multiple qualifiers when he was talented in only one or use the excuse of his impaired eyesight. He recognized that coveting someone else’s gifts would do nothing to enlarge his, so he simply developed the one skill he could.

The Bible contains many stories of envy, one with tragic consequences.  Adam and Eve’s two sons, Cain and Abel, vied for God’s favor, and because Abel’s sacrifice to God elicited envy from his brother, Cain resorted to murder. Times have not changed.  Social media now can easily prompt us to compare and fall short.

What do we do with these comparisons? Hopefully, exactly what Nedoroscik did…strive to improve the skills God gave us instead of desiring what others have.  Easier said than done.

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Do you ever open your mouth just to switch feet? I do, and it’s terribly embarrassing. I’ve said a lot of things that would’ve been better left unsaid. The two most-awkward instances that stick out in my memory is in  regard to the topic of pregnancy. I knew the rule about never ever ever asking a woman if she’s pregnant, or the due date of the baby. (Knowing a rule and abiding by a rule are two different things.) Neither of these two  lovely ladies were actually pregnant. Fortunately, both were gracious and forgiving to me, but I felt like digging a hole and crawling in. It’s impossible to back peddle out of a social faux pas of this magnitude. You’d think since I first pulled this thoughtless stunt in 1993 I wouldn’t do it again in 2024 — but I did.

God had his eye and hand on Job and had blessed him beyond measure. Satan was also watching Job. God was pleased with Job and told Satan, “He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless — a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil” (Job 1:8 NLT). Long story short, Satan was allowed to destroy Job’s possessions and do with him as he pleased, but God did not allow him to kill Job. You might say that Job had the biggest mid-life crisis ever recorded. But my favorite scripture of this account is: “In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God” (Job 1:22 NLT). Job was not guilty of sticking his foot in his mouth even though he was suffering terribly.

Now, Job’s wife was a different story. He would have been better off if Mrs. Job would have kept her mouth shut. I think she actually had both feet in her mouth at the same time. Her  bad advice to her husband was, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die” (Job 1:9 NLT). This is a prime example of the adage, “If you can’t say anything good, then don’t say anything at all.” I’d say Mrs. Job sinned with her mouth  in the third degree.

Many Christ followers occasionally and unintentionally make foolish, tactless, or hurtful remarks. And when this happens we should sincerely apologize to the individual, ask  for God’s forgiveness, and determine to be more careful in the future. But it appears Mrs. Job was hatefully intentional with her cutting words. She was a discourager instead of an encourager and a pathetic helpmeet. Maybe Satan didn’t kill her just to torture poor Job even more.

“Whoever controls his mouth protects his own life. Whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3 GW). If we want to live a happy life and get along with people, we need to consider what we’re about to say before we say it. God created our amazing bodies and He expects us to connect our brain to our mouth before we speak.

“Indeed, we all make many mistakes…” (James 3:2 NLT). Only God’s grace can help us control our words. We need to realize the importance of disciplined speech.  A few unkind words, combined with an undercurrent of judgment, can start a fire that’ll completely burn down an established relationship. Remember, only you can prevent forest fires.

The Key: Life is happier if your foot stays where it belongs.

With one, dull, uncooperative blade shaving my legs, I turned to a new one (blade, not leg).  This one had not two but five blades, guaranteeing that the hair missed by the first four would be clipped by the last.  Only, when I was finished, my legs were no smoother.  Perhaps I needed a razor with ten blades since these five had not done their job.  I tried again, shaving slower and more deliberately. No difference.  Scissors would have been more effective.

Clearly, I had gotten ripped off on this razor. I would return it and ask for my money back. Later that morning, I told Dave that they didn’t make razors like they used to. He asked to look at it. “Maybe if you put the blades in the correct way instead of upside down, that will help.” Seriously?  How had I not figured that out?  What was wrong with me?  Dave appreciated that he wasn’t the only one who messed up.

Two hours before, we were to load our mower onto the trailer to take to our friend who would change the oil and filters, sharpen and level the blades.  A team effort.

Hubby, after three tries, found where he had stashed the key that unlocked the cabinet that held the trailer hitch and the tie-downs and after two tries, found the key that unlocked the trailer hitch.  He backed the truck up to the trailer, aided by my keen eye to direct him to reverse in a straight line.  He was masterful as he moved levers and connected hooks and electrical cables to ensure the trailer was properly attached to the trailer hitch. We checked and triple-checked every possibility for the trailer not to come unhinged.  It was a proud moment for my manual man.

We lowered the back ramp so he could ride the mower up onto the trailer.  Imagine my surprise when he exited the garage on our golf cart, the golf cart that runs on batteries and is, last I checked, incapable of cutting a blade of grass.  Perhaps he was just moving it out of the way for the mower?  No. When he came zipping around the corner, heading for the trailer, I realized that he was having a “moment” where not all cylinders were firing.  I admit, I had my own “moment” and thought of letting him load the golf cart, use his tie-downs to anchor it, and drive it to the repair person who would, of course, find this as hysterical as I did.

But as a submissive, Christian woman (ahem), I realized that God might not find that as funny as I did, and since I am to be Dave’s helpmate, I kindly (well, sort of) reminded Hubby that he was driving a golf cart and not a lawnmower. Actually, I cracked up.  And so did he.
And here I was, two hours later, asking for help for a blade I had inserted upside down into the razor handle.  It’s easy at those times to point out each other’s inadequacies, ignoring Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) which tells us to be kind and tenderhearted.  Dave and I know that our brains aren’t what they used to be.  We now help each other with a word or name that escapes us, remind our partner that a tag is out or a zipper down, assist-drive from the passenger seat, repeat our daily schedules (multiple times) and fill each other’s gaps, gaps that are widening each day.

Most of all, we try to find humor in our mess-ups. I think that God appreciates that.  I hope we always find them as funny as we do now.

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Pitch Dark

I grew up in the country and, for most of my life while living at home, we didn’t have a big yard light, just a front porch light. We parked our vehicles in the detached garage, which meant we walked from the garage to the back door at night with no light. I suppose we used a flashlight on nights when it was pitch dark — I really don’t recall.  Eventually, Dad had a light installed on a big electric pole so we could see clearly at night. I still live in the country and on nights when the moon is full, I can see good enough to go walkin’ after midnight without a flashlight…not that I do, but I could.

The Word of God teaches us extensively in the Old and New Testaments that Jesus is the light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12 NLT). Before accepting and embracing Jesus as our personal Savior, we’re living a life that’s as black as pitch. But when the True Light (Jesus) indwells us, the darkness is vanquished.

Because Jesus is the source of spiritual enlightenment, He reveals the truth and guides us out of the darkness of sin and ignorance. Christ is the Word that was in the beginning with God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1,4 KJV). Jesus was with the Father from eternity, but He became man to pay the price for mankind’s redemption from sin.  

As the “Light of the World,” Jesus didn’t only occasionally do the will of the Father, He always did the Father’s will. As Christ followers, Jesus is our example. It’s imperative to know what the Father’s will is, and the best way to discover it is to study His Word. I wonder if that’s why some believers neglect to read their Bibles. We become responsible for the light we receive while discovering what God‘s Word is saying to us. When we ignore the personal revelation of the Holy Spirit’s light, it’s called “walking behind light.” Believers are to receive the Word of the Lord with willing hearts and be obedient to walk in the light we‘re given. God and the believer enjoy fellowship with one another on the basis of walking in the light of God. Fellowship is maintained with the Father as we continue walking in the light He reveals to us. To walk in all the light involves being tender-hearted, obedient, and acknowledging any darkness the Lord might point out.

My dad served as song leader at church and he would often select #379 “Stepping in the Light.” The lyrics, by Eliza Hewitt, are still relevant: “Pressing more closely to Him who is leading when we are tempted to turn from the way. Trusting the arm that is strong to defend us, happy, how happy, our praises each day! How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior, stepping in the light, stepping in the light! How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior, led in paths of light!”

Have you ever met a vehicle at dusk with no lights on? I always wonder how long it will take the driver to realize he’s actually driving in the dark? It’s not a good thing to slowly become acclimated to the dark; and that can easily happen without obeying the light of Jesus in our hearts.

The Key: Believers are to be obedient to live in all the light we’re shown.

Caitlin Clark became a household name last year when she set records in the Division 1, college women’s basketball league.  As a player for the University of Iowa, she is the first female to have consecutive 1000-point seasons, setting multiple records with that college.  When she left the university to join the Indiana Fever of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the media-hype followed. As she became the face of the WNBA by appearing in commercials with Nike, Gatorade and State Farm Insurance, she also was disparaged for getting all the attention other female players never had received.  Who did this young up-start think she was?

Caitlin refused to speak negatively against other players when they publicly criticized her.  Soon, they realized that she, single-handedly, was filling arenas wherever she played, and their popularity was soaring because of her skills. Rookie players now were being given a chance to play, whereas in the past they were buried on the bench.

The basketball phenom attended Dowling Catholic High School in Iowa.  Her former coach, Kristen Meyer, spoke about her former player and how important the faith component was for her to attend that school.  “She knows her gifts are a gift from God.”

According to “Tales From the NBA,” Clark has been recognized as the “girl counterpart to Stephen Curry.”  Dave and I now pay to watch her games on television.  The other night, the announcer said this about Clark: “She makes other people look better with her assists.”  Caitlyn still scores points, although not like she did at the collegiate level. Now, she sets records for the times she finds another player on the court and passes the ball to her so her teammate can score, sometimes even when she could take a shot herself.

Caitlin is a leader, and let’s face it.  Effective leaders are in short supply.  Today, employers speak about the difficulty of finding/developing a good leader, and they are frustrated because of it. From baseball to a manufacturing plant to a marketing expert, those in management have shared with me that they “can’t find anyone qualified.”

These employers think they see potential in a worker and attempt to elevate him/her to a leadership position, only to find that those people lack the skills necessary.  They cannot hold anyone accountable, fail to see needs as they arise, and set no example of dedication and hard work.  These employees could learn from Caitlin who sets an example of one willing to elevate her teammates by helping them do better.

Our best role model for this is Jesus Christ who came to serve and to set an example for us to do likewise.  In Mark 10: 43-45, we read Jesus’ words: “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”      

He, God in human flesh, the night before he was crucified, washed the feet of his disciples, an act of humility and selflessness, and one typically performed by slaves for their masters.  He made his disciples better men by setting an example for them.  There’s no better way for a true leader to lead.  Caitlin Clark is proving that true.  As Christians, we need to do likewise.

In a scene from a movie I recently watched, the lead actor said, “You can’t rebuild a friendship without acknowledging what destroyed it.”  Losing a friend hurts.   I know.  What once seemed to be indestructible suddenly is shattered.  (S)he said something that makes you question the foundation on which your friendship was built.  You thought rock.  Your friend decided sand.

Let’s face it.  A great friendship—not just a good one–requires much.  Time (the ability to pick up where you left off, no matter how many weeks/months have passed, with no hint of guilt). Focused attention.  Empathy.  Majoring on the majors.  Putting your own needs aside.  And forgiveness, giving the other person the benefit of the doubt.  I am blessed with friends from across the country as well as here locally.  I respect our differences and cherish our times together.  I call them my forever-friends, but I know the pain in having those relationships come to an end.

My best friend in grade school and I parted ways in junior high. We both entered public school after eight years in a Catholic school. We were besties.  Shared secrets, including boy-crushes.  Spent almost every Friday night roller-skating.  Tons of sleepovers.  Took turns leading each other around while one kept her eyes closed.  Nerdy?  You betcha.

But something changed in that junior high.  My friend got in with the popular crowd, and I did not.  I wanted to be in that group in the worst way, but my neediness, I’m sure, was a turn-off (that and a multitude of other issues).  With whom would I talk about the latest guy who had nothing to do with me?  Hold hands with as I skated backwards in an oval on those Friday nights?  Prevent me from walking into a tree when I pretended to be blind?

A couple of years ago, we had a chance to discuss what happened to our relationship.  Typical for most breakups, my gal-pal vividly remembered attempts to keep our friendship alive, none of which I shared.  I had a very different version of that ninth-grade year.  I imagine the truth lies somewhere in the middle of our two memories.

Sometimes, friendships dissolve painfully, and other times friendships are not meant to be. Proverbs 13:20 warns us of those times: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”  Other friendships need to end because God wants us to put our attention and energy somewhere else.  That, of course, does not mean that we become enemies or do not wish the best for the other person.

In the Bible, the story of David and Jonathan is one that regularly surfaces when friendship is discussed. Jonathan was the son of King Saul who, out of jealousy, sought to murder the newly-appointed king, David.  Jonathan’s loyalty to his friend was unwavering, warning David of his father’s intent to kill him and giving David his own robe, tunic, sword, bow, and belt, items which would help to save his life.

In 1 Samuel 18, we read just how solidified their friendship was: “…the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”  To be loved by a friend “as to his own soul” is a special gift, but how much greater it would be to have that kind of love to share as well as to receive!  Sometimes, all we need to do is determine to knit our soul to someone else.  Finding a forever-friend is worth the effort.

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Why John?

The Love Test: When serving dessert, love will always give the other person the biggest portion. I wouldn’t have any trouble giving my friend the biggest piece of raisin pie, but I’m pretty sure I’d give myself the biggest piece of French Silk. I’m just being honest.

When Jesus was dying on the cross in excruciating pain, his mind was not on himself. He knew His death would accomplish the final sacrifice for the sins of mankind. He also knew that His widowed mother would need someone to deeply love her and take care of her. John (the apostle of love) was the only disciple standing near the cross witnessing the crucifixion. Through eyes of compassion, Jesus saw His precious mother Mary also  standing by the cross with three other devoted women. The first words Jesus spoke from the cross were addressed to His heart-broken mother: “When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple He loved, He said to her, ‘Dear woman, here is your son.’ And He said to His disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from then on this disciple took her into his home“ (John 19:26 NLT).

Jesus entrusted John to take care of Mary. But why John? Why not Peter, James, or any of the other eight disciples? Well, for one thing, they were all absent. Since John didn’t quit, run away, or hide from the crucifixion, his actions proved that he was compelled by love. He truly understood Jesus’ teachings on love. John grasped the fact that Jesus loved him deeply, even though he was not perfect in everything he did. Therefore, John was chosen to take Mary into his home and provide for her. Jesus wanted his mother to be cared for by someone who knew how to receive and give love.

John was not AWOL at the crucifixion. He didn’t choose the easy route and cop out because he allowed love to compel him to do the right thing. Also, God needed John the Beloved to write about what he experienced and witnessed. We’ll never know how many people have surrendered their lives to Jesus due to reading the Gospel of John. Through his authorship of the Gospel of John, the Epistles of 1 John, 2 John, 3, John, and the Book of Revelation, we have a clearer understanding of faith, truth, hope, and love.

In his writings, John referred to himself as, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” John 13:23 NLT: “The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table.” John 20:2 NLT: “She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved…” John 21:7 NLT: “Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It’s the Lord!’ As believers, we too, can say with confidence, “I am the disciple whom Jesus dearly loves.” God is no respecter of persons; we believe that because of Peter‘s message in Acts 10:34 NLT: “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.” What joy to be loved like this!

As a disciple of Christ, John experienced and understood the importance and power of the love of God. “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world” (1 John 4:16-17 NLT). This would be a lovely scripture to memorize.

The Key: With much love, John always gave Mary the biggest piece of pie.