“Please, Ms. Ann let me read.” Ms. Ann had graduated only four years earlier from our small rural school. Now with a degree in education she returned as a teacher. The one class I had with her was seventh grade history. Although she had a degree and was a certified teacher, she lacked any teaching skills. Her method for teaching history was letting the fifty students take turns reading the textbook. Every day, everybody read, except one—me. I pleaded with her to let me read, but she either told me to be quiet or didn’t even acknowledge my request. By the end of that year, I hated history with a burning passion for many years. I know now I couldn’t read well. When I entered Bible College, I only had a sixth grade reading level—needless to say, I wore out a dictionary. Having now been a teacher myself for forty years, I know that Ms. Ann should have helped me rather than belittle and embarrass me.She never knew the scar that was left in my life. Not until Graduate school did I open up to the study of history. We should take extreme care what we say and how we handle situations for everyone and especially children.
About the same age in contrast to this negative experience, my paternal granddad did something positive that has affected me to this day. His 20’ by 20’ smoke house needed a new roof and he was no longer able to get up a ladder. He asked dad if he guided me could I put on a new roof. My dad said yes. As I was on the roof, my granddad watched from the ground and guided me as I replaced rotted boards and replaced shingles, one at a time by his instructions until he had a new roof. I felt like I was ten feet tall when I climbed down the ladder. Since then, I gained a confidence for carpentry and roofing work.
More life changing lessons come from small actions or simple words than from major events and long speeches. We can attend a weekend seminar and sit through multiple classes, but usually the most significant change in us results from one sentence, one phrase, one illustration or a small action of the speaker. I don’t remember anything from my basic music class in Bible College, but the teacher made a statement that has guided my life since then. “God chooses the best for those who leave the choice to Him.” I attended an education conference several years ago with numerous internationally known professors and ministers as the speakers. In the afternoon, breakaway classes for smaller groups took place. Typically, the speaker entered the room at the last minute and got his/her notes ready. In one particular session, I came about ten minutes early. To my surprise, the speaker, a well-known pastor of a megachurch, was already there walking around shaking hands, asking about our ministries, our families, where we taught, etc. I have no recollection of the actual class or even its title, but this distinguished leader’s humility and genuineness had a profound effect on me.
Several times I have returned to countries where I taught years before and a student would come up and ask, “Dr. G do you remember saying this in your class?” My typical response was “sorry I don’t remember”. Then they would tell me how that one sentence or thought changed their entire life and ministry. I can also imagine that some had a ‘Ms. Ann’ experience with me, but never approached. I can only hope I didn’t and pray if I did, that the Lord has healed them. Solomon’s bride says, “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vineyards” (Son 2:15). Adult foxes came and ate the grapes, but the small young foxes could not reach the fruit and would dig at the base and eat the tender roots, which eventually killed the entire plant. As parents, teachers, spouses, and as Christians, we must guard the little words and actions that can build up or tear down people. Paul told the Thessalonians build up one another (1Th 5:11). The word translated build up or edify literally means build a house. We build a house brick-by-brick, block by block, and board by board. I replaced my granddad’s roof shingle by shingle. If we use just one small piece of defective material, it can leave the house with structural weaknesses. Ms. Ann by her careless action brought issues that required years to correct. My granddad built me up with a small action, and provided a major area of strength that has lasted until this day.
Instead of always trying to accomplish something big in someone’s life, first realize that life is made up of a series of little things—brick-by-brick, word by word, action by action. Words and actions are power tools we possess. Let me rephrase James 3:5 from the Message Bible. A word out of your mouth [and smallest actions] may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything-or destroy it!
Sustaining Word for the Week: Build up someone’s life this week. It only requires a few words and small acts of kindness.