Sometimes I think we expect too much from people that we miss the subtle steps that they are taking to get to where they need to be and we miss out on the beauty that is right before us.

There are people that might not appear to be a heart felt worshipper like Jared Shipman, but yet, their heart for their God beams from within them and causes them to be the first of their group of friends to go up and receive communion.

There are people that might cuss like a sailor in front of their friends and on websites that they don't realize their leaders see, but yet they refuse to wear their hats when they feel they are in God's presence and take their hats off when they come into the youth room.

Some people have said that respect is a form of love or that respect can turn into love. I think that in some ways we are able to "pay respect" to God everyday, but other ways just go unnoticed. I think it goes back to what Paul teaches when it says "All things may be lawful for me, but not all things edify." There are so many things that are okay for me to do and there would be nothing wrong with me doing, yet, if I really think about how I can or should or am able to pay respect to God, then I would probably change things. I know that there are things that I am not comfortable in doing in front of my grandparents, yet I am able to do them in front of God on a monthly or weekly basis. Again, they might not be really bad in and of themselves, but out of respect for my heavenly Father, I should maybe change. I should change.

As I stood in the back of the youth room today, I witnessed these two boys, unexpected leaders, I was brought to my knees because of their beauty and because of the fact that they show God more respect than I do. May we all learn from them.