Alloparents!

James Cathcart November 13, 2024 4 1

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Philippians 2: 22-24 (NRSVA)

22 But Timothy’s worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.

Discipleship is not a personal path to solo enlightenment — it’s a model for vibrant thriving community! A place where meaningful and mutually sustaining relationships can blossom, like that between Paul and Timothy. An alloparent is a term for all the friends that contribute to the parenting of young ones who are not their parents themselves. Paul was one of Timothy’s alloparents. Paul even says in our reading today that Timothy was like a son to him.

Let’s imagine how Paul might express this relationship if he was sitting across from us now.

Paul: “Timothy is like a son to me, by which I mean…. he gives me sleepless nights, worries me, challenges me, undermines me, throws me off balance and… is worth every single second. I have made peace with who I am, and I know Christ loves me in spite of all I have been and all I continue to be now. But I know too that I’m not an easy person. The quiet goodness of Timothy, his genuine care and concern for others, consistently challenges and stretches me. I’m a champion talker, but no one listens like Timothy. He’s one of a kind, he makes me a better person. Fight the good fight son, fight the good fight.”

Prayer:

Help us to Paul the Timothys in our lives — championing them openly and unreservedly,

And help us Timothy the Pauls in our lives — inspiring and enthusing them.

Amen.