Torch, Fall 2002

Fall 2002 / TORCH 7 texture of our hair. Soon I had nine children sitting on and around me as the pastor continued. The children did not want to hear the speaker, but were more interested in hearing about me. Because one of the boys was named Jonah, I took them aside and began telling them the biblical story of Jonah. I realized during the telling of the familiar story that I had never been happier. Here were little ones all around me begging to hear about God. How lucky I was to serve Him. When it was time to go and the children began to scatter, two little girls would not let me go. They clung to my skirt and hands. I had brought nothing with me to give or leave, but I had to show them I cared in some way. I couldn’t do much, but I had to do something. I took out my hair clip and took off my beaded anklet. I gave one to each of the wide-eyed little girls. They were filled with joy. When people come into our lives and we make a connection, we must strengthen the connection by doing something specific for them. Maybe you could write a letter, send a book, or take them to dinner. They will never forget your kindness. You may never see them again, but your opportunity continues to grow after you are gone. The Greatest of These Above all else, we must learn to love the people that God allows into our lives. Shortly before Christ was to be crucified, He had this to say to His disciples: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). It is our love for people that will make a difference in our world. Unless we demonstrate Christlike love, our opportunities are worthless. All people need and want love, and they’ll do many things to get it. In his book, You Can Win with Love , Dale Galloway shares a story about a little boy who would do anything for love. It was a cold Sunday in Chicago and Dwight L. Moody’s Sunday school was operating as it did every Sunday. Arriving late in the morning was a little boy whose legs were blue from the bitter cold of the wind blowing across Lake Michigan. His coat was tattered and torn and pulled together at the top with a safety pin. Johnny had no hat on his head to keep him warm and wore worn-out shoes with holes in the bottoms without any socks. Taking the boy in her arms, the Sunday school greeter began to massage the boy’s half- frozen legs to stimulate circulation. Then sitting the boy down at arm’s length, she asked him where he lived. When the little boy told her, the lovable Sunday school greeter quickly calculated that the boy had walked more than two miles, one way, across the windy city of Chicago, on a bleak January morning, to attend the Sunday school of Dwight L. Moody. “Why did you do it?” asked the friendly greeter. “There must have been a dozen churches that you walked past to come here. Why did you do it?” The little boy was a little shy, and he hesitated a moment then blurted out, “I guess, ma’am, it is because they love a fellow over here.” 3 People just like this boy are wandering around the earth looking for God’s love. We must be ready to help. If we love whomever God puts in our path, our opportunities will multiply. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people … ” (Gal. 6:10a). ======== 1 Maxwell, John (1997). Becoming a Person of Influence . Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 94. 2 Littauer, Florence (1996). It Takes So Little to be Above Average . Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 263, 265. 3 Galloway, Dale E. (1976). You Can Win with Love . Irvine, CA: Harvest House Publishers, 162. C edarville University senior Brittany Waggoner became a published author when her book Prayers for When You’re Mad, Sad, or Just Totally Confused was released by Vine Books in September 2002. A broadcasting major, Waggoner desires to encourage and motivate Christians, especially teens, through a ministry of speaking and writing. Waggoner is a native of Fuquay-Varina, N.C. For more information about her and her book, see page 13 or e-mail her at cstagemin@aol.com . T