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I saw him in the church for the first time on Wednesdsay. He was in his mid--70's, with thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in the past I had invited him to come. Several other Christian friends had talked to him about the Lord and had tried to share the good news of Jesus with him. |
He was a well-respected , honest man with so many characteristics a Chirstian should have , but he had never put on Christ , nor entered the doors of the church. "Have you ever been to a church service in your life ?" I had ask him a few years a go. We had just finished a pleasent day of visiting and talking . |
He hesittated. Then with a bitter smile he told me of his childhood experience some fifty years ago. He was one of many chirldren in a large impoverished family. His parents had struggled to provide food , with little left over for housing and clothing. . |
When he was about ten, some neighbors invited him to worship with them. Then Sunday School class had been very exciting! He never heard such songs and stores before ! He had never heard anyone read from the BIBLE ! |
After class was over, the teacher took him aside and said, "Son , please dont come again dressed as you are now . We want to look our very best when we come into GOD's house." He stood in his ragged, unpatched overalls. Then, looking at his dirty bare feet, he answered softly," No ma'am, I wan't-ever ." "And I never did," abruptly ending our conversation. |
There must have been other factors to have hardened him so, but this experience formed a signficant part of the bitterness in his heart. I'm sure that Sunday School teacher meant well. But did she really understand the love of Christ. Had she studied and accepted the teachings found in the second chapter of James ? |
What if she had put her arms around the dirty, ragged little boy and said, "Son , I am so glad you arew here, and I hope you will come every chance you get to hear more about Jesus." |
"I reflected on the awesome responsibility a teacher or pastor or a parent has to welcome little ones in His name . How far-reaching her influence was! I prayed that i might be ever open to the tenderness of a child's heart , and that I might never fail to see bryond the appearance and behavior of a child to the eternal possibilities within. Yes , I saw him in the church house for the first time on Wednesday. As I looked at that immaculately dressed old gentleman lying in his casket, I thought of the little boy of long ago. I could all most hear him say, "No ma'am, I want ever." And i wept..............* IF ANYONE KNOWS WHO WROTE THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO I CAN GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THERE WORK OR IF THEY DONT WANT IT HERE I WILL REMOVE IT THANKS JIMMY |
JUST THINK FOR SIXTY SOME YEARS WHAT THIS LOVEING TEACHER SAID HAD A RESOUNDING AFFECT ON THIS MAN BUT MORE THAN THAT MAYBE FOR EVER AND EVER ON HIS SOUL THANKS FOR VISITING MY PAGE MADE WITH MUCH LOVE JIMMY |
last updated on: 2/22/02
"Artwork copyright by Danny Hahlbohm. All rights reserved to the artist." |