Your Daily Devotional for November 14, 2006

 

November 14, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: For Those Who Care

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference.”

 

Jude 1:21-22

Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech.

With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was “different.” She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her—until she entered Mrs. Leonard’s class. Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair. While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard.

In the 1950s, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual hearing test. However, in Mary’s case, in addition to her cleft palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to let the other children have another “difference” to point out, she would cheat on the test each year. The “whisper test” was given by having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and then repeat something which the teacher whispered. Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended to plug her good ear. She knew that teachers would often say things like, “The sky is blue,” or “What color are your shoes?”

But not on that day. Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard’s mouth that changed Mary’s life forever. When the “whisper test” came, Mary heard the words: “I wish you were my little girl.”

Just as Mrs. Leonard made the difference in Mary’s life by showing that she cared, there are people who have made a difference in our lives. Maybe it was an elementary school teacher, a coach, a parent, a pastor or youth pastor, or a Sunday school teacher. Whoever it was, if you think back, there was probably someone who made a difference in your life.

Are you a teacher? Or rather, do you find yourself mentoring others—maybe through teaching a Sunday school class or even just witnessing to someone! Do not ever let mentoring opportunities become mundane and routine for you. Reach out to those who maybe don’t have as much as you or who are maybe a little different. Just as someone made a difference in your life, you can make a difference in someone else’s life.

Have you ever taken time to thank those who made a difference in your life? Have you let them know that they helped you? Sometimes we never think to thank those closest to us, yet they are the ones who seemingly do so much for us. Maybe simply thanking them will help encourage them today! Take time today to write a note, send an email, or call someone who helped you along in life!

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