Clarity Revealed in the Life of Mary Rhoades

I had a tremendous revelation about the value of my life last night. It came about after I found out that Mary Rhoades had died.

I got to know her when she was the youth ministry assistant at First Baptist Church. She did not have a position that many would consider important, and it was certainly not high paying. She made copies, put together fliers, helped register kids for camp, answered the phone. But her true position was one of listening ear, comforter, counselor- the one who loved everyone unconditionally. She knew who the depressed kids were, the cutters, the ones fighting with their parents. She'd invite them out for coffee or lunch. She paid for them. She paid for me when I was working as a youth intern.

She had pictures of all the kids (and bigger kids like me) she knew on a bulletin board. I gave her one of my cherished photos of me riding an elephant in Sri Lanka. I didn't give out those pictures because I didn't have many, but I gave one to Mary for her board because it made me feel proud. I knew she would see me on that elephant and believe in me. She believed in the adventure I was on with God.

Mary struggled with ongoing health problems, but she never allowed them to keep her from loving. She is the one person I know who would call you randomly and say "I LOVE YOU!" I started telling more people I love them because of her. She did not hold back her love. When she saw you coming she'd say "Hello beautiful!" with such joy and gladness that you truly believed you were beautiful.

After she stopped her work with the youth ministry she began to work with unwed teen moms at the high school. She was passionate about her work with these teens and she spent her own money throwing them baby showers.

Mary died young, but she invested every moment of her short lifetime for the Kingdom.

Yesterday as I reflected on her life I had the revelation that the Bible really is true. I've often doubted if I have pursued the right choices as I have sought to live out the verse "Seek first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well." I honestly doubted if my investment in missions, in orphanages, in chickens for poor people in the developing world even, might not have been better spent on paying off my student loans. I have not seen immediate return on these investments and I have felt like in seeking first the Kingdom I have neglected my career and have looked foolish in the eyes of the world.

But when I thought about Mary- faithful, loving Mary- before the throne of Jesus, receiving her reward, her "Well done, my good and faithful servant!", hearing all the stories of the lives she has touched... I affirmed anew my dedication to seek first the Kingdom. How fast, or even if I ever, pay off the student loans does not matter.

I remembered Matthew 6:

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

How hard it is to keep this eternal, Kingdom perspective when the world is constantly telling us we need to be worried about our mortgage, our car payment, our student loans, saving for our kids' college education, etc. etc. etc....

But truly this lifetime is short and we are not guaranteed another day. I am reminded of the quote from Gladiator, "What we do in life echoes in eternity."

Yes friends, it may be hard to realize when you have diapers to change, dishes to wash, bills to pay, email to check, reports and deadlines and dinner to make... but one day it will all end. We don't know when that day will come.

So this new year, rather than resolving to lose weight or wash the car more often, why not resolve to be the kind of person that will receive their reward from Jesus. Resolve to love people with the love that only comes from Father God. Resolve to honor people, especially the least of these. Resolve to STORE UP YOUR TREASURES IN HEAVEN.

Thank you Mary, for your life. Thank you for revealing to me the truth of the Scripture, and ultimately for reminding me of the real meaning and purpose for my life. Please enjoy Heaven for me, and party it up with all those angels before the throne of Jesus!