I didn't want to, I didn't have to, but I did it anyways...

I was drained.

I was up early that morning, attempting to form a new exercise habit, went to work all day, stopped over to a friend's house and then went to Bible study. The hands of the clock were winding around and around while my eyelids became heavier and heavier.

I finally got home. I took care of a few dishes and the day's mail and then off to bed.

Finally. Comfy, cozy, relaxed. I could stretch out and get ready for some rest.

Ha. Not quite.

I tossed and I turned. Hour after hour.

I got up and read but that didn't help to much. I just wanted sleep.

Then I finally began to drift off into a sleep that had definite restful potential. The only problem was that it was 6:30 am and my alarm was scheduled to go off in 90 minutes.

So I soaked up as much sleep as the 90 minutes allowed and then I was faced with the decision: Do I get up, get dressed and go sing at the nursing home or do I roll over and go back to sleep?

Hmmmmmm.....

The pro/con list was forming in my mind when all of the sudden it was interrupted by the voice of my brother and his wife who stated the night before, "we need your voice".

Well, I got up, not because they needed my voice because I am exceptionally good (because anyone who has heard me knows that's not true) and not because I specifically wanted to go but it's what I do.

The first Saturday of every month a group from my church goes out and sings 4 songs to a room of nursing home residents, my brother gives a little message and then we shake their hand and greet them with a smile. ANYONE can be a part of this ministry. It requires no talent whatsoever (although there are some in the group with very high rankings on the talent scale, for which those of us with low rankings are exceptionally happy to have with us) but all you need is a voice, a hand, a smile and a willingness to be there.

So I got up and got dressed and made it there just in time. I walked through the door and the first person to greet me was Logan, an adorable boy from my Sunday school class. As we walked to the first room, Logan (who was in an exceptionally good mood that morning) said "C'mon Miss Amy! C'mon Miss Amy!" as he took off down the long hallway.

I chuckled and didn't think much about it at the time but as the day drew on and I was now at home later in the afternoon, going over my lesson for the next day I thought of Logan and the rest of the kids in my class.

Logan is only 4 years old but he is a bright kid and as much I don't want him to grow up I am excited to see what God has planned for him. Maybe he'll be a pastor or a faithful deacon in a local church (like his dad) or maybe God will call him to go to a foreign field. I pray these be opportunities for Logan and I pray that as he grows up, that he will have a desire to serve God, whether it be from a pulpit or singing in a nursing home.

As a Sunday school teacher, I have a part in encouraging him to know God and to trust Him. I encourage the kids in my class to memorize their Bible verses each week and just like realizing how ridiculous it is for me to encourage them to memorize verses when I myself wasn't, it is just a ridiculous for me to encourage them and tell them how great it is serve God if I am not fully doing it myself.

That afternoon I realized my real reason for going to the nursing home. I didn't want to (I wanted to sleep). I didn't have to (no one was going to punish me if I didn't go). But I went anyways and part of the reason I did was to be an example.

The Bible says we need examples and we need to be examples.

In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul is instructing Timothy to be an example, no matter how old or young you are, we are to be an example, "let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

If we do not step up and be an example to the next generation, who will? The music/movie/tv stars that get married one day, divorced the next and have children out of wedlock, are we going to leave it to them?

While I anticipate these kids growing up, I also fear for them and the world they will be left in charge of if the Lord tarries. They need good examples. Good examples in word and conversation (not potty-mouths that have every other word bleeped), good examples in charity (seeing a need and fulfilling it), in spirit and faith and purity (does main-stream America even know that the word "purity" exists?)

Now I am not saying I am anywhere near being a good example in any of these areas but I can strive to be.

I'm glad I didn't stay in bed and sleep on Saturday. I would have missed out on some blessings.