WWJD, if you didn’t grow up in the 1990’s this means, What Would Jesus Do.  This phrase was printed on bracelets and young Christians across the county proudly branded themselves.  It was a cool way to show the world what you believed in, without being to ‘churchy’. 

The purpose was to ask yourself that question when faced with a challenge.  Cheat on a test?  WWJD, well you’d better study.  Go all the way with your girlfriend?  WWJD, I guess a cold shower will do.  Curse at your parents?  WWJD, nope, you gotta show some respect. 

Like any trend, it went out of style but remnants were left behind starting a bigger trend of more Christian based jewelry (other than the traditional gold cross necklace) and graphic tees with scripture verses.  It was a Christian revolution of sorts.

It also left behind, at least for me, the WWJD standard tattooed on my brain.  I now had a standard in which to compare, to help me be a better person.  It lead to me want to know what Jesus would do so I turned to the Bible.  Wikipedia wasn’t even a thing at the time and the Bible is the ultimate guide about Jesus’ life.

People describe Jesus as their Savior and their friend.  I needed to know what that meant.  The two words seem so very different.  As a young adult, I’d heard the word Savior and had the basic understanding that it’s a matter of fact, Jesus died for us and saved from our sins, thus warranting the title Savior. 

This seemed to explain it well and it felt distant enough that Jesus was lifted high on a pedestal, but friend?  That was too close.  I might have said the words, Jesus is my friend but at the time it would have been an acquaintance type of friend.  A friend I’d see at Church and occasionally talk to but not about anything too personal.

The WWJD comparison was more of a lens to determine what was right and wrong.  If I thought God would approve the decision, then I’d do that.  It was more about doing what I thought was right and acceptable.  I believed it was how a person lives out their faith but that was before Jesus became my BFF (best friend forever).

As I got to know Jesus through the Bible, I learned more about his character, how he treats people and how he spends his time.  In my prayers, I began to talk to Jesus, instead of give him a laundry list.  My prayers had been impersonal, giving a litany of people who were sick or hurt, with perhaps a Hail Mary or Our Father thrown in for good measure.  They had become a real conversation where I was spilling my heart out and waiting for a response.

In addition to the change in my prayer life, I began to recognize Jesus in the people around me in their actions.  When someone would look me in the eyes and open a door, I saw Jesus.  At the grocery store when I had only a few items and the person with a full cart in front of me allows me to go in front of them, I saw Jesus.  It encouraged me to do the same.

I started to lend a hand on projects simply to help, without agenda and no personal or professional benefit.  I send cards to people who were sick or had lost a loved one.  And I volunteered more often at my kids’ school because it was a way I could give to others.  I wasn’t doing these things because I’d stopped to ask WWJD, instead I was doing these things because I wanted to follow his example by being an example.

I believe it was Mother Teresa who is credited in saying, “God had no hands but our hands and no feel but our feet.”  The more I spent time with Jesus, getting to know him through scripture and prayer, the more I went out to share my belief in him through my words and action.  Yes, there are examples such as Mother Teresa who could inspire me and she does, but Jesus was her role model too.  I cannot share love or forgiveness without the example of Jesus, my savior and friend.