When I think of the phrase "above and beyond", I think of someone doing something that far exceeds what they are expected or obligated to do. As a teacher, I, personally, don't feel like I'm doing my job well just by doing the status quo. I get to work an hour early so that I can make sure I am planned and prepared for the day. I create games and interactive activities for my students on my own time because I know what their needs are and what will keep them engaged, and the curriculum given may not contain exactly what they need. I spend my own money so that my students get to make gingerbread houses at Christmas time, have yummy treats at lunch bunch, and have bubbles and chalk to play with at recess time. Why? Because I love those little guys and it makes me happy to know I'm creating good memories for them in their first full day school experience.
When I think of my parents and how they raised my brother and I, I would say, without a doubt, they went above and beyond anything they had to do to make sure we had a great life. They were only really obligated to give us a roof over our heads, food to eat, and the other basic necessities, but time and time again, they far exceeded those basic standards. They sacrificed so much to give us a great Christmases, fun vacations, college and vocational educations after high school, not to mention constant and on-going love and support and a firm spiritual foundation. They have and continue to go above and beyond and I can't thank them enough.
Today is Good Friday. Those of us who call ourselves Christians believe that this day over 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ, who was sinless, blameless, and perfect, offered Himself up to die a criminal's death on a cross, for the purpose of paying for the sins of all mankind. Because of this incredible gift, we, who believe in Jesus and accept His gift of forgiveness of sin, can now have a relationship with God and will spend eternity in heaven with Him. Talk about above and beyond. Jesus was beaten, belittled, tormented and tortured while people were sinning in His day and time and knowing we would continue to sin thousands of years later. Why? Simply so that we could have a relationship with Him and the Heavenly Father. #mindblown.
But that's not even it. Jesus saved our eternity. He has the right to be up in heaven with His feet up, chillin', allowing us to work out our own problems, fix our own messes, and deal with our own issues. But Jesus, to this day, goes so far above and beyond what seems reasonable in that He wants us to come to Him with our problems, our messes, and our issues, and He wants to take care of them for us. He wants us to give Him our burdens and He wants to give us relief. Most of all, He wants a relationship with us. The ultimate above and beyond. #completemindblown
Today and everyday, I will be grateful that Jesus went above and beyond at Calvary, and continues to go above and beyond in my daily life.
