Loyalty III - THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

. . . and became obedient to the point of death . . . 

 - From Philippians II

There was a young lady that went off to college. One day, she was a high school leader with confidence and a fierce independent streak. She was known for her common sense, her ability to cut through the nonsense, to the logic and sensible answer.

That was one day. But the next, she was in college, and soon came under the influence, and spell, of college professors and academics - people that never had to balance a budget, make a payroll, feed a family, manage a will with multiple siblings, save for contingencies, or worry about losing their job for a temporary lapse of judgment. 

College professors - typically young and with something "cool" about them . . . a rebellious streak that makes them appear as being in control; and "expertise" borne by hours of research, spent in proving, not disproving, their favored hypotheses.

The young college freshperson soon found herself at a large political rally. People were carrying signs and wearing hats, and other gear, that is distinctly and deliberately insulting to large swaths of society. Photos of her, at this rally. appeared on Social media, where they were viewed by friends and family.

She needed some money and asked her grandfather for help. He gave her the money she needed, but said "I don't want to see pictures of you at political rallies any more." And she said "You won't."

End of story . . . or, should be the end of the story.

We owe our elders so much. We owe them our trust in their wisdom. We owe them our loyalty. 

But loyalty, the concept, has fallen on hard times. We put politics ahead of familial love. We put friends we will forget in ten years, ahead of family that will never let us down. Age brings wisdom and perspective. 

Jesus' obedience to God cost Him His life. He humbled Himself completely, so that we could have eternal life. But the price He paid, was everything. All that pain that Christ endured? It was real, and it was intense. But that's loyalty for you.

The Seventh Day of Christmas is the "Leave-Taking of the Nativity." You grow up. You move on. You get serious. You start thinking about the long term, about the price we must pay, to gain eternal benefits. 

The Seventh Day of Christmas should be a day we celebrate our elders, and commit to them, to make them proud. 

I care more about what my grandparents think of me, than almost anybody . . . and the last one of them to die, was now nine years ago. I believe they would do anything for me, if I needed it. They would never let me down.

But professors, friends, employers, and politicians, will drop me as soon as they can no longer use me.

Give me someone to be loyal to. Give me someone that has modeled it best, but being loyal to me, although I deserve it very little.