In second grade, Master E was the delight of the teachers. His childish joy lit up the front row and shined most brightly when he raised his hand and 'oo-oo-oo'd to answer a question. He was tender, eager, and responsive; always ready to venture a thoughtful answer. We loved it when the "eureka" effect happened -- the internal light bulb lit up his entire face and shined brightly from his blue eyes. He always dressed respectfully, his blond hair trimmed nicely, his face scrubbed to brilliance. He was our model Sunday School boy. We had no idea he was an unsaved child from an unsaved home.
During the parent open house this year, Master E's aunt stopped by and told us a little about him. He was the son of her sister and brother-in-law. They allowed her to bring E to church on Sundays, neither encouraging him nor discouraging him. But over the summer, E had begun developing an attitude of disinterest in church. Aunt wasn't sure that Master E would come to Sunday School. I asked her to tell him that Miss Johnson was really looking forward to seeing him -- to remind him that I had been his worship leader last year and would be in the 3rd grade this year. And then I prayed over the next week: Please bring him, Lord. God graciously answered our prayers. Master E came!
I can see that the childish joy of my little E has indeed waned, and so I make a special effort to let him know how glad I am to see him. Yet, I know my eagerness won't hold him forever. Last week, he missed Sunday School. I prayed all week, please bring him back, Lord. Again, God graciously answered my prayers. Master E came back.
"I missed you last week!" I told him after Sunday School. "Where were you?" He had been out hunting with his dad. At least he thought that's where he had been that Sunday. And he subsequently told me all about hunting fowl -- duck, pheasant, grouse. The big pockets in his dad's hunting jacket that store the dead fowl as well as their lunch. How the grouse flap their wings in a special way and ruffle out their tail feathers. How you scare them up. That you should shoot them in the leg or head, but the best place is in the lungs or the heart so you don't ruin the meat with the 100 balls of shot. That his mom fixes grouse with bacon.
"I've never had grouse with bacon. Actually, I've never even had grouse!" I told him. Master E thought a split second before responding, "Maybe we could have you over for a grouse dinner!" I told him I would love that. Just then his uncle came to pick him up.
I am praying for an invitation to a Grouse with Bacon Dinner. I am praying for the soon salvation of my happy hunter and his parents. Will you pray with me for the soul of my child?
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them: I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? -- Luke 18:1-8
No comments:
Post a Comment