Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Matthew 25:1-13 My youngest has the biggest heart ever, but she is very straight forward and does not mind at all expressing how she feels. I often wonder how I ended up seeing my grandmother in my child so much. I have many stories I could tell of my daughter, but this is one that really touched me in a profound way: My daughter and her friend wait for the bus together on school mornings. My daughter was watching for the bus, when her friend decided to go back and get something she left, because the bus driver was a little later than usual that day. She asked my daughter to wait for her. My daughter replied, “I will wait, but if the bus comes, I’m not getting left for you. I have to get to school.” At first, I thought it was kind of rude of her to tell her friend she would leave her, but I was then taken back to the story in the Bible of the five wise virgins and the five foolish ones (that’s what they’re called in the Bible); then, I realized that my youngest had a good point- that even we, as adults should consider in our lives. We can’t wait forever for people in our lives to figure out if they want to do right by us or not, and we can’t afford to wait sometimes for those who have purposely made the decision to go and do other things when God is calling now. Sometimes, no matter who it is and how much we love them, we have to go on without them. If not, we will miss the “bus” of opportunity that God has waiting for us and be held back from our greater. This isn’t a plea to leave everyone behind or not exercise patience at all. It is instead a warning to not allow anyone to hold you back from your God given purpose and life. Be prayerful about those in your circle of influence, and know when to stay and when it’s time to go and let go. Don’t get left behind for anybody. Matthew 25:1-13