“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)
It’s easy to see why, that with a quick glance, this bird is often mistakenly called a “red-headed” woodpecker. Not until you look at him from a different perspective, in this case seeing what’s underneath, can you understand why his actual name is a red-bellied woodpecker. I’m old enough to remember radio host Paul Harvey’s distinctively comforting voice saying, “And now you know the rest of the story.” Sometimes we have to look more carefully to truly see.
When I was in Sixth Grade my A’s and B’s became C’s and D’s. My teacher, whom I loved and wanted to please didn’t understand what was happening. I looked the same, but wasn’t the girl she knew. Before long my mom came to school and there in the quiet of my empty classroom, mom said what I couldn’t say. “My dad had unexpectedly walked out on our family.” Mrs. Mayer looked at me with tears in her eyes, came around her desk, and wrapped me in her arms while whispering how sorry she was that she didn’t know. She had seen what she thought was me but now could understand that it was what was underneath, my broken heart, that told the rest of my story.
There are pivotal times in our lives and that was one of mine. That special teacher’s compassion for me in that moment and beyond, is one of the reasons I became a teacher myself. Her care of me became the way I tried to always treat my own students. I never wanted to let my first impressions of them or their behavior mistakenly label them in one way or another. I wanted to know “the rest of their stories” too.
And isn’t that what we all really desire? How often when asked how we are, do we say, “fine” even though we’re not? We may be exhausted, scared, in pain, grieving, confused, lonely, barely keeping our heads above water but trying not to let it show. At quick glance it mistakingly appears we have it all together and let’s be honest; there’s a part of us that wants to keep it that way. And yet, we also long for someone to see us from a different perspective, to look underneath that protective “fine,” more carefully and truly see what we can’t say, that we’re broken. Those around us are longing for the same thing.
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15:13 (NLT)
Jesus was letting us know that as believers He considered us friends, and He did give His life for ours. I don’t know about you, but that’s something I can never imagine doing. What if we look at it another way though? Instead of a quick glance and taking “fine” at face value, what if we lay down our day to day life…our perceived business, our phones, our own agendas, the desire to control our free time (speaking to myself) so we have the opportunity to look more carefully to truly see. Spending time with one another offers us all the opportunity to see things from a different perspective, to see what’s underneath, and to say what maybe we couldn’t before.
It’s been 52 years since I sat in Mrs. Mayer’s classroom. I wish I could talk with her today so I could say, “thank you.” Thank you for listening. Thank you for grieving with me. Thank you for caring. Thank you for taking the time to truly see me, broken as I was and literally changing my life. That’s the kind of friend, wife, mom, MiMi, Christian, that I want to be. How about you?
“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.”
Romans 12:10,13,15 (NLT)
I have a little (or a lot) of time. Now that you know a little of mine, what’s the rest of YOUR story?
Joining others at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com as we write to the prompt, say. Click over to see what they have to say.