. . . knock, and it shall be opened to you . . .

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. . ."

Matthew 7:7

This verse has been on my mind ever since I saw this door in my photos. 

It was one of many I snapped one Sunday afternoon.

But my attention was recently riveted on it.

I have had many thoughts racing through my head

and wish I could take awhile and put them to type.

But I have a due date tomorrow for my principal--

more educational red tape.

So I will just share briefly.

There is a boy who has been a problem to us teachers in his three years with us.

I was hoping I would have a better year with him.

He started out decent, but then started to act up---some of it really inappropriate stuff.

One day we had a free day and I sat down next to him.

There was a sweet boy who's a good friend to him, sitting in the next seat

and two girls whom I respect.

They came into the conversation later,

chiming in on some stories.

However, in the beginning it was just L. and me talking about hunting.

I asked questions and I listened---

really listened.

I became fascinated with the boy that was emerging as he talked about

his dad and him bear hunting out in another state.

The stories shifted to training their hunting dogs 

and trapping a raccoon, but being kind to it.

It did its job and then was set free.

The "Wow!" from me was genuine.

Do you know that L. is no longer a problem for me?

And that when he got a deer with his bow and arrow,

he asked if I wanted to see it

and trustingly pulled out his cell phone to show me

after I said, yes.

(I could have taken it from him.).

I complimented him and was not grossed out.

(After seven years of teaching in a poverty-stricken area,

I no longer see the deer as 'Bambi',

but as the difference between a family going to bed hungry or not.

However, in the lens of my camera, it's still a Bambi.)

I'd been knocking my head against a door.

It would not open.

Some have pounded it or kicked at it (not literally)

and managed to split open a spot or two,

but the door itself remained shut.

And just as the leaves grew over parts of this door,

L. devised his own 'curtain'

that blocked our view of the boy who lived within.

He faced surgery on a badly injured leg (football)

and spoke to me of his fear of getting the anesthetic.

He was afraid he wouldn't fall asleep fast enough.

With my experience with surgery, I could reassure him that he would.

I checked on him through his girlfriend,

when he was absent

and have worked with him to get him caught up.

I make a point of asking about his leg.

I prayed about L. and God showed me what to do.

I used my heart and the door opened wide.

On a lighter side---

I found this when looking for the verse on the Internet,

which is quicker than thumbing through my Bible.

"A pastor went out one Saturday to visit his church members. At one house it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door even though the pastor had knocked several times. Finally, the pastor took out his card and wrote "Revelations 3:20" on the back of it, and stuck it in the door.

{Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and him with me.}


The next day, the card turned up in the collection plate. Below the pastor's message was the notation "Genesis 3:10".


{I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.}"


anonymous

                                      Blessings to you as you begin the new week!