Known for…Lollipops?

Happens every Sunday morning. Sweet little children with eager faces run up to me with one question: “Mrs. Tiffany, where’s Mr. Scott?” Not a hug for me, not a high five. Only an inquiry as to my husband’s whereabouts. Hmpf.

You see, Mr. Scott is known among the children of our church as the lollipop guy. Little ones who can’t even talk can communicate what they want from him. And “kids” who seem surprisingly tall to want lollipops manage to track him down, too.

It all started when Mr. Scott and Mrs. Tiffany began teaching in the pre-K classroom a couple of years ago. We would work through our Bible lesson, and as each child was picked up at the end of class by his or her parents, Mr. Scott would offer them a lollipop. Pretty soon, the kiddos were asking to take home lollipops for each of their siblings. Then the actual siblings – and their friends – started finding Mr. Scott on their own – before church, between services, and after church. Mr. Scott had developed both a reputation and a following!

For Valentine’s Day this year, Mr. Scott’s favorite surprise didn’t come from me – it came from three-year-old Wes. Wes had been grocery shopping with his mom a few days before, and they happened to go down the candy aisle at the store. Wes spotted a jumbo-sized bag of Mr. Scott’s lollipops and asked his mom if he could buy them for Mr. Scott. That little dude showed me up! (I forgive you, Wes. That was so sweet, it was my favorite Valentine’s Day surprise, too!)

Nowadays, kids that Mr. Scott has never seen or met – plus a whole lot of kids he has! – find him every Sunday morning. All have learned to very politely ask for their lollipops and to kindly thank him. It’s been a great way for the littles to learn some basic manners and a great way for Mr. Scott to get to meet new kids and their families. And the kids all know the rule – you don’t unwrap your lollipop until Mom or Dad says it’s okay.

Mr. Scott is known for his lollipops. What are you known for? What’s your hallmark trait that comes to mind when others think of you? What’s your “calling card?” If you claim to be a follower of Jesus, are you known by the ways your life reflects His life?

Christian, remember the incredible gift you received at the moment of your salvation – God’s Holy Spirit! When He made His home in your heart, He filled you with His fruit – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Are you known for those things?

In His time on this earth, Jesus taught by word and example what our hearts should look like. From the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11, He called us to be poor in spirit, mournful , meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemaking, and persecuted  for righteousness’ sake. Am I known for compassion? Jesus was. Kindness? Forgiveness? Standing on the truth? Jesus was.

Throughout His earthly ministry and most especially in His final days, Jesus modeled absolute trust in His Father and complete obedience to His Father’s will. And on a cross, crucified between two criminals, He modeled perfect, sacrificial love – no matter the cost. I pray that we – His beloved church – will be known as those who daily take up our own crosses and faithfully follow in His footsteps. May we bring honor – not shame – to His holy reputation by the ways we love others as He did.

“A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35