Christian Living

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Swift to Kick
By Patricia Backora, author of the book
Tough Love in Christ's Millennium
Which you can order online from: http://www.publishamerica.com
Philippians 2:3; I Peter 3:8

There was a precocious little boy who boasted that he was smart for his age, and everyone else was stupid by comparison. All aglow from his teacher’s latest commendation, he and his parents decided to celebrate by spending the following day at a beach resort.

Another lad, who was in the same class, had just gotten a bad report card. He couldn’t help it, for he was still traumatized by the death of a beloved aunt, who was so godly she reminded him of Jesus. School authorities did not permit extended absences for bereavement, except for a death in the immediate family. The little boy’s grief was so great he couldn’t concentrate on his studies. To make matters worse, he had been reprimanded in front of the whole class by his heartless teacher for being both slothful and stupid.

But the boy’s parents were far more understanding. They knew their child’s potential was far greater than his negative test results. Bad marks on an impersonal report card were nothing compared to the bad mark left on his soul by someone who supposedly knew all the answers. After listening to their child’s account of the abuse he’d suffered in front of the class, the parents only smiled and consoled him.

The father took the mother aside, and told her he would deal with the teacher on Monday morning.

Rather than upbraiding the boy for his poor marks, the parents told their son how proud they were of him for his efforts to overcome his grief and get on with his life, just like his aunt would have wanted.

The next day, they told him to fetch his swimsuit and they would spend the day at the beach. The mother set to work making a splendid picnic lunch.

How relaxing it was, sitting in the sand building a castle, forgetting the cares of the previous afternoon. The bereaved little boy took great consolation in the fact he wasn’t an imbecile; that he was a creative, worthwhile individual. Lovingly he laid the foundation of his sand castle. Then he embellished it with towers, turrets and spires. He even dug a moat and filled it with seawater.

Along came the first boy, still heady with pride in his straight-A report card. Looking down with disdain, he said airily, “Now look what Dumbo’s done!”

With one swift swipe of his foot he demolished a castle_and a heart that was beginning to heal.

What sorrow it brings the Father-heart of God to see His “more spiritual” saints ridicule the seemingly small accomplishments of those who bear greater burdens in life than they have ever had to shoulder. How swift such hypocrites are to kick somebody who is down while they themselves are up!

[email protected] http://www.kingdomageministry.com

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