Well, enough of my lame analogy and on to my lesson learned…
While I was with my folks down in Mexico last month, I realized that I was learning AGAIN something a person can’t learn sitting in one of my dad’s meetings or listening to one of his teaching CD’s. I learned the price another person pays to obey God.

I watched people soak up the wisdom God’s given my dad, enjoy his humor and benefit from the anointing on his life. I saw the inspiration and the hope in their eyes that came from looking at his life and ministry. I also looked on as people expected, and even asked, more of him. More, after all he had done and all he had given? How could they know what it costs my dad to do what he does? How could they understand the price he pays (in time, money, energy, study and prayer) to do what he does? Of course they wouldn’t know; and neither do I, not completely. And I realize that often I take advantage of the good treasure in my dad and then respond only with pressure for more instead of with gratitude and with ministry to him in return.

Year after year, season after season of my life I am able to realize more fully the price my parents pay to follow Jesus, and what’s more, to do what He has called them to do. The older I get, the more I understand the cost to a person, to my dad, what he really surrenders to be the person I see. Of course, much of that understanding comes from the decisions to surrender things myself. You can watch and watch, but once you do, you know.

There are teachers and leaders in our lives who are paying a precious price to help us grow, to love us into that next level of maturity, to teach us the invaluable truths God’s revealed to them and share the experience they’ve gained listening and obeying His voice. It costs each of them more than you or I can know. I do pray, though, that I will become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and more willing to minister back to those who minister to me.

Really, everybody, no matter who we are, every man, woman, boy and girl pays their own price to follow and obey. And while no one else will ever fully know that individual price, they’ll also never know the individual rewards that God soooo richly pours out in perfection over each of us! I know that’s how my dad feels about his life. Nothing he would trade, no regrets for following and obeying!

Personal update: I moved out of state last Fall and have spent what now seems a considerable amount of time away from my parents. I miss them like crazy and look forward to spending a whole month with them before my wedding in June!