My wife and I share in the joy of a 6-year-old son named Jackson. He’s a typical boy in terms of his desire for mischievous activity, continuous video game play, and constant physical activity. I get tired just writing about it! While I wish I had his energy I also wish I had his willingness to truly be open to what God might have to say or call him to consider.

Every night before we put Jackson to bed we take time to finish any reading from the day and after our devotional reading, (a daily kids devotion) we have time to talk, pray and sometimes sing a few songs from the day. Recently he wanted to sing a rock song like “Jingle Bells or Mary Did You Know.” I didn’t realize they qualified as rock songs, but hey, I’m open.

Not long ago we started reading the prayer of St. Francis with Jackson because of the prayer’s beauty, simplicity, and truth. The two-second history on St. Francis is this: born in 1182, left a life of privilege (actually kicked out by his father), lived poor, loved God’s creation, invited others to join him in serving the poor and spent his life teaching, preaching and healing wherever he went. It was during his ministry that he wrote the following words:

“O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace! Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, harmony; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light, and where there is sorrow, joy. Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; ?and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.”

After a couple nights of reading the prayer I asked Jackson to repeat the prayer with me, hoping he would commit it to his memory. I started, “Lord, make me an instrument …” Jackson follows, “Lord make me a trumpet…”

As soon as he said that I had two different thoughts. One: How cute is that?! It was one of those moments that parents store away in their minds to recall when they remember their children. Two: What kind of instrument is God truly calling us to be?

Now, I don’t think God is asking us to be drums, clarinets, and saxophones necessarily, but what if we started thinking of God as a master conductor and we were in fact instruments in the chorus of God’s mercy, justice, and love? What if God is singing a melody of forgiveness over our brothers and sisters and we truly are instruments bringing the song to life?

The prophet Zephaniah writes, “God is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (3:17).

Maybe God is using us to help others hear that song?

I give thanks for Jackson as he reminds me of that. May you be reminded that God is singing over you and God is actually using you to help others hear the song of love and grace.

Lord make me a trumpet.

Rev. T. Bryson Smith has been married for 10 years this June to his college sweetheart Lori. They have one son, Jackson.  Smith loves to play Wii games with the family, read, work on his jump-shot occassionally, and attempt healthy living. However I have an affinity toward Chick-fil-A so that’s a tough one. Smith has been serving Fieldstone UMC for almost two years. Previously I served Burke UMC in Burke Virginia.