You Follow Me

It all happened so fast.

One day my wife expressed concern over my son’s sudden insatiable thirst. A week later and we’re in the emergency room receiving the diagnosis that he has Type 1 diabetes. 

Just like that, I find myself annoyed by the misconceptions that other people have between Types 1 and 2. (No, Ben didn’t become diabetic because of eating too many cookies…No, Ben is not prohibited from eating sugar or required to change his diet…) 

I am shocked at how quickly I assumed the mantle of expert on something I knew almost nothing about literally a week before. But what happened even faster was how quickly I started playing the compare game.

Minutes after learning the diagnosis, I searched my mental database for everyone I’ve ever known or heard about who dealt with diabetes. I began comparing the scraps of information I had about their lives with our situation. 

I saw some situations that appeared more challenging, and others that seemed “easier.” I grew fearful when I recalled vague scenarios I’ve heard about where things went very, very badly. When I felt like we got a raw deal, I looked at other parents at the children’s hospital and realized that we could be dealing with something much, much worse.

You don’t need to be a self-proclaimed expert on diabetes to realize this has nothing to do with diabetes.

This is a favorite pastime for humans: comparing ourselves with one another.

How do I look compared to them? Is our situation easier? More difficult? Is our relationship better? Are they happier than us? Are we making better choices? Smarter choices? Holier choices? 

We do it with our friends. We do it with our self-avowed enemies. We do it with our siblings, our neighbors, and our co-workers.

I am reminded of a story from the Gospels in which Jesus gives Peter a glimpse of the path He has planned for him. Then Peter asks Jesus about John, wondering what will come of him. And Jesus basically says, “Don’t worry about it.”

“You follow me.”

It’s a classic line echoed by parents for generations. The brother inquires about the perceived shortcomings of his sister: “Yeah, but what about her?”

And the parent responds, “Don’t worry about her. Worry about yourself.”

On a good day, when I find myself anxious about my future or overly concerned about how I’m measuring up to someone else, I can hear Jesus calmly telling me, “Don’t worry about them or what I’m doing in their life. You follow me.”

That brings me peace, as I am reminded of God’s creativity, which is one of my favorite things about Him. When it comes to His children, God is not a cover band. He doesn’t need to repeat what He did with someone else, because He’s too original for that. And He’s not a one-hit wonder, because He doesn’t run out of great ideas. 

It’s not for me to worry about anyone else. Not other families who DON’T have kids with diabetes, or people who seem have it “easier” or “worse” than us, or those who experienced heartbreaking results. God’s doing something different with everybody, just like He did with St. Peter and St. John.

I regularly need the reminder (maybe you do today as well?) that we serve a very creative God. 

All I need to know is that He loves me. 

He’s doing a new thing in the life of my family. 

And He will use all of it for good.

“What I’m doing with others should not concern you. You follow me.” –John 21:20-22