I sit back and reflect on my life. I realise I’m not who I am because I’ve made it on my own. The circumstances I grew up in and the people who were close to me (and still are) and who I’ve played with (and still do – though not as energetically …), had a huge impact on my life.

This reminds me of the legend of Tarzan. On a distant island his parents died while he was still a little baby and his future did not seem bright. Fortunately, an enormous gorilla mommy came past and took pity on the screaming little one.

Tarzan thought he was a gorilla too. The other gorillas thought he was a gorilla too, just a different version with less hair. The gorillas Tarzan grew up with shaped him. Man, I always wanted to fly through the forest on those ropes like Tarzan. But wait, I’m losing track of what I want to say.

The point is that the people around us play a major role in our lives. I am who I am because other people have played a part in my life. Some major roles and some bit parts, but still.

The problem is that we keep rushing around, so busy with life that we don’t realise it. When we were young, we were so busy finding ourselves and our spot in the sun, that we didn’t realise what a big role our parents (with blood, sweat and tears) and brothers and sisters played to keep us from running off the road.

Our school pals, our let’s-watch-rugby pals, our braai pals, and all the other pals taught us lessons as we played and were having fun, and that is why we are who we are today.

Our spouses and even our children helped shape us. Yes, sometimes it was bloody, but who said it would be easy to soften the sharp edges?

The people we worked for, even if they were hard on us sometimes. The people who worked for us, even if they drove us up the walls sometimes. Each one played a role in our lives.

Even the stranger that came stumbling past sometimes had a lasting effect …

Onesiphorus was one of the people who had made a difference in Paul’s life. He was very grateful to him and that is why he blessed him: ¹⁸… May God on the Last Day treat him as well as he treated me.

And suddenly I am filled with gratitude. I have to thank God for all the soft arms and soft hands that God placed around every corner of my life. Some maybe once. Others repeatedly. I am who I am because God made my path cross with those of others.

But even more than that. I want to say thank you for each person who crossed my path, because it changed me. I learned. I practised. I saw. I followed examples. I fell. I got up. And I could be an arm and a soft hand for someone else.

Thank you!

So, today I say: “May God be good to you. Now, tomorrow and all the days after that!”

Scripture
2 Tim 1:15-18

Reflection
Which people have played a role in your life?
Who plays a role in your life right now?
Have you thanked them yet?

Prayer
Lord, today I want to thank Your for …… . Show me how I can show my gratitude to him/her in a tangible way. Amen.