Bmeandering

Bmeandering

Sunday, November 20, 2011

. . . 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!







7 comments:

  1. What a blessing for both of you, Beth, and your calling card story made me laugh. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week!

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  2. I love that photo, but the story of L really touched me. You are a blessing to your students, and the attention and love you shared with him may change his school career.

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  3. i LOVE this story! (and the one at the end left me chuckling...)

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  4. Great story of your open heart, Beth. Good for you and L.!!! Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving.

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  5. I loved the card joke!

    Your story about L made me smile. The things in life that challenge us are God's way of showing us how strong he made us. When we use that strength, doors open no matter what! :)

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  6. thanks for sharing this.
    it is eye opening in how we can try so hard in our own strength and get nowhere.

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  7. Love your story about L! I'm sure he'll always remember you as someone who genuinely cared and listened. So many need someone like you to sit beside them - and care. One of my favorite quotes is, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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