Word Nerd Fix

Confessions of a chocolate snob: I am a word nerd.

I LOVE to look into the meaning of words. I carefully choose my words based on these meanings. To help feed this nerdiness, I have a word of the day that pops up in my dictionary app.

Today's word: stewardship

It's a word I am very familiar with and have used it much in my life. I thought I knew the meaning of it and almost didn't click on the prompt to see the word of the day. But I couldn't resist. I had to get my word fix. Maybe there was something cool in the origin of the word that could feed my desire to know more.

I didn't even get down to the origin.

The first phrase was a familiar friend: "the responsible overseeing and protection of something". Got it! I've taught that. I've embraced that.

But wait, there is more.

Not just something, but "something considered worth caring for and preserving."

*mic drop*

I had never considered this before.

As I let this settle into my heart, I thought of the "somethings" I feel stewardship over.

My son. My students. My colleagues. My friends. My neighbors. My church people.

These are the first things. I noticed the pattern.

Relationships.

Are these "things"?

No, these are people. Living organisims with whom I am privileged to co-exist. But not just co-exist. What makes people "worth caring for and preserving"?

People are necessary for life. We truly cannot exist without other people. If I cannot exist without people, then aren't ALL humans within my stewardship--worth caring for and preserving?

My list expanded: the store clerk, the fellow walker I pass on the Jordan River trail, the man I hear outside who is mowing the lawn of my complex, the people I haven't even met, the animals and other creatures who cross my path, Mother Earth, anyone who may read a social media post.

These are all within my stewardship circle.

They are all worth caring for and preserving.

I am not a steward over a "something".

I am a steward WITH something. And not just a "something", but a living organism.

I am a co-steward with billions of other stewards who are trying to figure out what is worth caring for and preserving.

So to my fellow steward, you are worth caring for. And I will improve my stewardship with you. Because you are worth it.