Stair Steps

"You know how I've always wanted to be a doctor?" asked Ethan as he helped himself to a drumstick at his grandparents' house. "Well, we had a special visitor at church last week--a surgeon from a mission hospital in Africa. They need lots more doctors there, so maybe I'll go to Africa someday." Ethan beamed. "I told God I'd go wherever He wants me to."Grandma smiled. "That's great, Ethan.""Yeah, but…" Ethan paused. "I don't know if I can do it. It costs a lot to go to school to learn how to be a doctor, and it's hard work. I might not be smart enough.""Well, I'm not saying it will be easy, but if that's what God wants you to do, He'll help you work it out," Grandpa assured him. But Ethan still looked doubtful.After dinner, Ethan and Grandpa went out to the garden to pick raspberries to eat with ice cream. "Look at all the berries!" exclaimed Ethan. "We should have brought a bigger container. I'll go get one." He ran to the house and tried to take the four steps to the porch in one big leap, but ended up sprawled across the stairs.When Ethan returned, Grandpa grinned at him. "You couldn't take all four steps at once, could you? Well, reaching the goal of being a missionary doctor is like reaching the top of those steps. You can't get there all at once--you need to take one step at a time."Ethan looked back at the steps. "The steps to the porch are easy to see, but I'm not sure what steps God wants me to take." "I think you took your first step when you told God you'd serve Him wherever He wants you," said Grandpa. "The next step will probably be to study hard. And maybe the third will be learning to save money. Trust God to show you each step and help you reach it. Most importantly, remember that He's working in your life so others can see His love in you. No matter what you end up doing, He'll help you point others to Jesus."Ethan nodded. "Okay. I guess I'd better go home and start on my second step. I've got a test I need to study for." He grinned. "After we have ice cream, of course!"-Mary Rose Pearson