Christian Living

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People Are Not Always What They Seem
© 2007

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Roxanne was the meanest, sourest girl Pam had ever known. She, like Pam, was a Freshman at Seminole Senior High School. Eight hours of Roxanne every day seemed like some kind of punishment. She grumbled, snapped and bickered constantly at teachers and students alike. Try to talk to her about anything and she would turn what you said into something to argue about.

One night while eating dinner with her family, Pam got on the subject of Roxanne. “The girl is just nuts! There’s nothing normal about Roxanne. She’s just all wrong and all messed up!”

Pam’s grandfather, a stately man, smiled. “Come on Pamela! No one is ALL wrong!” he said. “I’ve got a clock that quit running. But even it’s right two times a day.”

Pam laughed. But her grandfather’s statement intrigued her. “If grandfather could find two right moments in a non functional, stopped clock, I should be to find something positive about Roxanne. Or could I?”

To find something positive about Roxanne became a challenge for Pam. After a few days, Pam learned that Roxanne was remarkably dependable. Pam found she could depend on her for turning in her homework on time and complete with care. Pam also discovered that Roxanne was honest. Regardless of those who liked her or not she could be trusted by everyone. Roxanne never missed a day at school. Her attendance record was spotless.

Pam found it. She found three right things about Roxanne. But that wasn’t the amazing part. While Pam was intent on looking for her good qualities, she hardly noticed the bad ones. And when she did something that bothered her, Pam just looked at Roxanne and said: Dependable, honest, punctual Roxanne. And somehow she seemed much more bearable. In time, and against the odds in some people’s eyes, Pam and Roxanne became friends.

Maybe you know a person who seems “all wrong”. Why not try Pam’s grandfather’s “stopped clock” idea? It is likely the person you are now in conflict with will have an entirely different face about them! And who knows—maybe you’ll get a friend out of it and a save a soul for the Kingdom of God!!!

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