I was blessed to have a “rocking chair mom.” Some of my earliest memories are of her sitting in our overstuffed platform rocker, with me on her lap and my two older brothers seated on either side as she rocked and read to us from the ten-volume set The Bible Story. When we were hurt or sad, she would gently rock us, listen to our woes, then share her characteristic words of wisdom.

Years passed. First, I became a wife, then a mother, then a grandmother. Through every phase of life, there was always a rocking chair in my living room, an ever-ready invitation to the rest, relaxation and comfort of its rhythmic cadence. Books were read, children comforted, and prayers prayed in my rocking chair.

Setting up housekeeping in Southeast Asia, I immediately began my search for a rocking chair. I soon learned that what I considered an essential piece of furniture was virtually unknown in this part of the world. Here, where sitting on the floor is considered both logical and comfortable, the idea of a chair that rocks seemed almost dangerous. It was a happy day when I finally added a big wooden rocking chair to my living room. The extra-long rockers added by the designer ensure it can never tip over backward!

Have you ever noticed the “walking rocking chair” phenomenon? It occurs when a standard-style rocking chair “walks” across the carpet as you rock. Shortly after purchasing my rocking chair, I found a small rug to smooth the click-clicking sound of rocking over the grouted edges of the tiles that cover my living room floor. The rug threads are very short, yet they have the power to move my big heavy rocking chair, thread by thread, in the direction of the rug’s nap. Frustrating! While I don’t have the power to stop the nap from moving my rocking chair, I have found that I do have the power to choose the direction it moves me. By turning my small rug one way or another, I can determine whether my chair “walks” forward or “walks” backward as I rock.

This phenomenon reminds me of mission work on the Tai-Kadai project. In this land where traditional evangelism is not allowed, hearts are reached and changed by how one lives out their Christianity in moment-by-moment interactions with people. Like the threads of a carpet, little things determine the direction of our influence. A kind word, a smile, or taking time to listen to someone’s story may seem small, yet when guided by the Holy Spirit, these small actions have the power to move an empty heart toward the fullness of friendship with Jesus.

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