Someone’s Shoulders
October 14, 2015
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who doesn’t change like shifting shadows.”
A grandfather was telling about his granddaughter who would visit him on the college campus where he taught and ride on his shoulders. One day they ran into a friend who had seen the little girl the week before. The friend said, “Look how much you have grown since last week.” She replied, “Not all of this is me.”
What she meant was, “I’m not really this tall. I am riding on my granddaddy’s shoulders.” That is true of all of us. We are all standing on the shoulders of someone else. None of us have gotten where we are on our own. We have ridden on the shoulders of people who have helped us along the way: parents, teachers, coaches, bosses, friends, mentors. We have ridden the shoulders of God, the giver of life. Don’t forget that. Occasionally I will meet someone who thinks he is the source of all his blessings. I want to ask him, “Did you create yourself? Who changed your diapers? Who taught you in school? Who gave you your first job?” We are all where we are because we have stood on the shoulders of others. Wise people are humble and never forget the source of their blessings. It might be good today to call someone whose shoulders you have ridden on and tell them, “Thank you.”
A grandfather was telling about his granddaughter who would visit him on the college campus where he taught and ride on his shoulders. One day they ran into a friend who had seen the little girl the week before. The friend said, “Look how much you have grown since last week.” She replied, “Not all of this is me.”
What she meant was, “I’m not really this tall. I am riding on my granddaddy’s shoulders.” That is true of all of us. We are all standing on the shoulders of someone else. None of us have gotten where we are on our own. We have ridden on the shoulders of people who have helped us along the way: parents, teachers, coaches, bosses, friends, mentors. We have ridden the shoulders of God, the giver of life. Don’t forget that. Occasionally I will meet someone who thinks he is the source of all his blessings. I want to ask him, “Did you create yourself? Who changed your diapers? Who taught you in school? Who gave you your first job?” We are all where we are because we have stood on the shoulders of others. Wise people are humble and never forget the source of their blessings. It might be good today to call someone whose shoulders you have ridden on and tell them, “Thank you.”
– Dr. Tim Thompson