The scene starts out with me in the computer lab at my high school after school, doodling on a whiteboard. (Names have been changed for identity purposes.)
“Leah, are you busy?” I turned around and saw Miss Mayfield, the 5th grade teacher at my school.
“No.”
“Do you mind helping John with his math homework?”
“Sure, I’ll help.”
I walked from the computer lab to the 5th grade room where John was sitting at a desk with his math book open.
“What numbers do you have to do today?”
“Two through forty-eight even.”
For the next hour or so, I helped John with his math. There were times when it seemed like he was about to give up, but I encouraged him to keep on going. It was also difficult to try to explain concepts to him in a way that he would understand.
“Yay! We’re done now. Good job, John! Well, I better go. I don’t want to miss the volleyball game.”
This simple experience sticks out in my mind because God gave me a deep love for John (Christ’s love, that is). Earlier in the week in Bible class, I had learned the Greek word “makarios,” which means “happy.” During (and especially after) the time that I was helping John with his math homework, I had such a strong feeling of joy. I could have been working on other homework; however, the joy that was produced in me, made me have no regrets about how I spent that time. I was “makarios” during the event and afterwards.
From that memory and other memories that I have, it seems that the events and scenes that I remember are the ones in which Christ is being glorified (either through me or others).
1. Do you think God wants us to remember only the “good” memories or “bad” memories as well? Why?
2. Do you think that God plants all of the thoughts that one has in a person’s head? Explain.
I love your story. You showed Christ's love to that boy, simply by helping him with his math. It is interesting that you say, the events you remember are the ones in which Christ is being glorified. That is really profound. What kinds of other memories really stand out to you?
ReplyDeleteI think God takes the bad things that happen in our lives and uses them for good. It is all right to remember the bad memories, but I think what God wants us to remember about them is how God used them for good.
To answer your second question, no, I don't think God plants all our thoughts in our heads. Of course, with that question, you could get into a discussion of free will and predetermination. But I think what it comes down to is that God made us to be thinking creatures, and He gave us minds to love Him with. It's up to us how we use our minds—whether to glorify Him or to glorify ourselves.