The Day I Stopped Being the Center of the Universe

It was a day just like all the others. I was at school and all us students were getting our lunches out. I believe I was around 7 at the time. I remember going over to the microwave and taking out a lunch that was inside and putting my own in. I never stopped to check if the food was warmed up or done, I didn’t ask anyone if the lunch was theirs, didn’t bother mentioning that maybe it was done. I just took theirs out and put mine in. I was the center of the universe right, I didn’t even think about it.

Little Me

When I was a little kid I was not the nicest to be around. I struggled with being super bossy, lying, manipulating situations, etc. I tended to be a selfish little girl. Most kids are until taught otherwise. My parents were wonderful and always did their best to lead me, guide me, and point me back to the way God wanted me to be. But sometimes in life you need someone else to come along to really get the point across. And so we go back to that day at lunch.

Treat People Like Jesus

One of the senior boys came over and got right down at my level and in my face. I really liked him and looked up to him. It was his lunch I had taken out of the microwave, and it wasn’t the first time I’d done that. He didn’t yell or anything like that. But he was very serious. And he told me something along the lines of, “You are a selfish kid. No one likes you or wants to be around you. If you want a life with friends and loved ones you better get your act together and learn how to think about others every once in awhile and treat people like Jesus!” (Not word for word obviously, I was 7!)

I Stopped Being the Center of the Universe

I remember being devastated, at the time, over what this boy had said. I put myself in the bathroom and was crying. But as I sat there I realized something, he wasn’t wrong. I was crying because I was embarrassed, but what the boy had said was truth. I was selfish, I did try to boss everyone around and manipulate situations so that I got my way, I didn’t put others first. I didn’t have friends. And that day something changed. Sarah stopped being the center of the universe. I started doing my best, even at 7 years old, to put others first, to consider others feelings and thoughts when doing things together. And my little world began to change and friendships started to develop. I’m so thankful for that boy who took the time to try to set a little girl straight. My mom wrote a great article awhile back about producing good fruit for God’s Kingdom. Check it out! https://mustardtrees.com/2025/07/29/producing-good-fruit-for-gods-kingdom/

Imitate Christ

In Philippians chapter 2 there is a POWERFUL passage of scripture that talks about Jesus. Paul is encouraging the believers in Philippi to imitate Christ’s humility! https://bible.com/bible/111/php.2.1-11.NIV If Christ can make himself NOTHING, can take on the very nature of a SERVANT, humble himself even to death on a cross…..how much more can I take the time to think about someone before I take their lunch out of the microwave.