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Topic: Graduation (08/30/04)
TITLE: A Teacher for Life By mary wolf 08/30/04 |
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Most children didn’t even go to ninth grade After finishing the small one room school ‘s required eight grades, there was a graduation ceremony and life settled into either helping on the farms, or going to work in the small town close by.
“Ashley are you going to high school” Mrs Fohn asked.
“I really want to Mrs Fohn , but there are hundreds of kid there , and they say you have to change teachers and room s every subject”
“ Let me ask you this Ashley, Do you believe in God?”.
The Question supprised her but she responded respectfully.
“Mrs Fohn you know I do, why you sometimes ask me to pray for our lunch.”
“Ashley , there is something I want to talk with you about after school today. could you stay for awhile?”
That after noon Ashley quietly sat at her desk waiting for her teacher to speak with her,. She wasn’t sure if she was in trouble or not but she couldn’t remember doing anything to make Mrs Fohn angry with her.
She did make straight A’s so she was sure she was going to graduate eighth grade, it couldn’t be about that..
Finally the other children were gone and Mrs Fohn called her up front beside her.
“Ashley , I am very proud of you and will miss you .Sense I can not continue to be your teacher, I wanted to introduce you to one who can.”
“Ashley wiped a tear from her cheek , she was so fond of her teacher .
She was puzzled.“ I didn’t know anyone else was meeting with us?”
“Ashley This teacher will teach you in every subject if you allow him to.”
Ashley looked at Mrs Fohn, ” I guess I don’t understand.?”
“We have talked about God many times but Ashley, God has a Son do you know him?”
“Oh yes I know we have stories about Jesus in church .”
“‘Well then you know that Jesus died on the cross and rose again .”
“Yes that is the Easter story.”
“ Ashley you know that sin was why He died ,but what is sin Ashley?”
“Mrs Fohn every one know that, it’s like stealing, and murdering , things like that. Oh and like that time you had to punish Billy for hitting Tommy.”
“Ashley you are a young lady now and I want you to know that your sin is the reason Jesus died on the cross!”
Ashley’s eyes grew as big as saucers., she began to shake her head no. “ Oh Mrs Fohn , I love Jesus I would never hurt him. I can’t even stand to see daddy whip our horse!”
“Why if I had been there I would have ran for help, .just like Peter did , I’d have.tried to save him.!”
“No, He would not have allowed it, because only by dying could he pay for your sin”.
“Sin is doing anything that God says not to do or not doing what He tells us to.
Do you know that you sin?”
Ashley buried her face in her hands and wept. After a few moments Mrs Fohn put her arm around her .
She spoke tenderly, “ Ashley Jesus wants you to accept him as your saviour .. He wants to be your redeemer. “
Ashley bit her lip and nodded her affirmation.
“You must tell him you accept his payment for your sin , personally, and trust him.”
“I really want to, how can I do that”
Mrs Fohn reached for her Bible. “ According to God’s word right here in Romans 9:10 he says “Whosoever, shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
“You must give yourself to him by asking him, will you do that?”
“Yes I want to.”
Ashley bowed her head and Prayed a simple prayer, “ Dear Jesus I know that I sin and I -I am sorry. You took my punishmentment and so I want to ask you to be my saviour , thank you .”
‘Mrs Fohn embraced her ,” Ashley , To belong to him means you willingly give him you heart . It is a commitment for life. He will walk with you a nd teach you all things.”
“Now you have truly graduated!”
That Friday night at the graduation cermony, Ashley walked up to take her certificate.
She smiled at her teacher and she whispered “Thank you for teaching me!”
They both knew it was for tThe graduation lesson she had taught .