Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday January 5, 2011

During my brief sabbatical I wrote down several neat sayings, some humorous and some profound which I plan to use now that I am, as one reader wrote, "back in the saddle." I like the saying though I preferred Spearmint Gum over Doublemint. One such is today's which expresses my respect for teachers, the ones that are sure they have a call and prepare with intensity and teach with zeal. Paula Fox wrote:

"Teachers inspire the smallest hearts to grow big enough to change the world."

When I was in Elementary School I thought most of my teachers were trying to teach the rudiments of English or Arithmetic or other arcane knowledge to me, the kid with a hard head and dirty neck. As the years have rolled on I realize that a few were really attempting something much harder, to teach me to grow from where I was to where I could be through application of desire for wisdom and elbow grease.

To be honest, I am not even close to where I wanted to be at this point in life. To be honest, I am light years ahead of where I started and where many thought I would be. Many openly said that, "The boy will die in the electric chair." They came so close to being correct, but something happened along the way. At twenty years of age and meanness, Christ came storming into my life. At that point the prayers of a few teachers along the way made sense to me. The simple little talks and words of encouragement in a non-encouraging situation registered and my heart began to grow toward the Lord and to the desperate condition of my friends. Through Christ I outgrew the road I had journeyed along, along the heavenly way my life went from darkness to light, from an underlying despair to one of deep seated hope. A desire to help rather than hurt.

I certainly haven't changed the world, but thankfully a few men and women have changed as I preached and taught about Jesus. I now hear from middle aged folks that I impacted when they were children. I find a deep satisfaction in these notes, photographs of their children and spouses. I often think how it would be for some young man or woman who responded to the message or lesson years ago to become President of the United States. I don't see that on the horizon, but one person whom I touched a little in life is an elected sheriff. He has a long way to go to the White House, but you never know. I do know of several missionaries around the world and pastors I taught in Sunday School back in the dark ages. God is good.

"Inspiring the smallest heart to grow big enough to change the world" is a big order, but smart teachers know that is the unstated purpose of teaching whatever the published subject.

This gem is from Isaiah 54:13:

And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

The public school teachers in our church have learned to "teach Jesus" via their demeanor as they instruct students on the discipline of Math etc.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit

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