Grandpa
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Proverbs 22:6
“Grandpa – NO!”
Grandpa’s fork clattered to the floor as he lunged across the table, “Tommy, what is wrong?”
Tommy looked just like his mother, dark hair, dark eyes, and perfect golden skin. Mom had sent him from their home in Tahiti to live with Grandpa and Grandma in Southern Illinois. She was fulfilling the tradition of Tahitian children living with their grandparents for a year. Tommy was looking forward to knowing his American sailor’s father. Four-year old Tommy couldn’t have been more loved, but Grandpa was concerned.
“What is it, Tommy? Are you hurt? Are you OK?” Grandpa hugged Tommy close to his chest. “Tommy, what is it?”
“We have to pray before we eat.”
Grandpa sat down and looked into his grandson’s wide, tear-filled eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Tommy, you know we don’t pray here, why do you say that?”
“Teacher, Teacher said we should thank Jesus for our food and we didn’t pray.”
“OK, Tommy, you say your prayer,” Grandpa was silently reminding himself to have a talk to this teacher.
“Fold your hands, you, too, Grandma,” Tommy waited as hands were folded. “Come Lord, Jesus, be our guest and let Your gifts to us be blessed. Amen. Now we can eat.”
The next day Grandpa asked to talk with Tommy’s pre-school teacher and confront her about the prayer issue. He had enrolled Tommy in the Lutheran pre-school so that he could learn English. Tommy’s French was impeccable, but he needed English if he was going to be in America for a year. Grandpa didn’t believe in this Jesus that was taught and he would give this teacher a piece of his mind.
The teacher asked Tommy to play with the toys while she talked to Grandpa. The two talked for an hour. She witnessed to the faith in her heart as Grandpa questioned each statement. The two parted with the compromise that Tommy could pray, but Grandpa wouldn’t listen.
Christmas came and Tommy was all excited, he would play a shepherd in the school pageant. He wanted Grandpa and Grandma to sit in the front row. Grandpa beamed with pride at Tommy but was uncomfortable in his chair as he heard how Jesus was born to save him from sin.
By Easter Tommy was speaking English with the best of his class. He was memorizing the Bible passages and had Grandpa saying meal prayers with him.
Tommy invited Grandpa and Grandma to the Easter service and they heard the story of the Risen Savior. Tommy shared the story that night as he made Grandpa say prayers with him.
Shortly after Easter, Grandpa was admitted to the hospital. Cancer had spread throughout his body. Tommy asked his teacher if she would come and visit Grandpa.
Grandpa and Tommy’s teacher spent an hour talking – she sharing her faith in Jesus and the wonders of heaven – he wondering if it could be for him.
The pastor came to visit. Grandpa shared how scared he was of dying. Pastor shared the Good News of salvation won for all by Jesus. It was a free gift.
Tommy ran to tell his teacher the news, “Grandpa was baptized last night and he wants to see you.”
Teacher walked slowly to the bed and touched Grandpa on the arm. He woke and smiled when he recognized her.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Thank you for sharing Jesus with Tommy. Thank you for meal prayers. Thank you for the peace I feel in my heart. God bless you.”
Tommy held onto his Grandma’s hand at the funeral home as he looked into her eyes and said, “I am glad Grandpa is in heaven with Jesus.”
Such is the influence of the Lutheran schools. All across America stories can be shared just like this – children learning about Jesus at the teacher’s feet and then becoming the evangelist for the family. Yes, Lutheran schools train evangelists on fire with the Gospel. They eagerly share their faith with all who will listen.
Every time a school faces problems over finances, every time a school board wrestles with issues of personnel, every time a teacher questions why they go on, it would be good to remember Tommy’s Grandpa. Grandpa is walking the streets of heaven because one teacher shared Jesus with one student – who in turn shared Jesus with his Grandpa.
Let us never tire of training up children.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Proverbs 22:6
“Grandpa – NO!”
Grandpa’s fork clattered to the floor as he lunged across the table, “Tommy, what is wrong?”
Tommy looked just like his mother, dark hair, dark eyes, and perfect golden skin. Mom had sent him from their home in Tahiti to live with Grandpa and Grandma in Southern Illinois. She was fulfilling the tradition of Tahitian children living with their grandparents for a year. Tommy was looking forward to knowing his American sailor’s father. Four-year old Tommy couldn’t have been more loved, but Grandpa was concerned.
“What is it, Tommy? Are you hurt? Are you OK?” Grandpa hugged Tommy close to his chest. “Tommy, what is it?”
“We have to pray before we eat.”
Grandpa sat down and looked into his grandson’s wide, tear-filled eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Tommy, you know we don’t pray here, why do you say that?”
“Teacher, Teacher said we should thank Jesus for our food and we didn’t pray.”
“OK, Tommy, you say your prayer,” Grandpa was silently reminding himself to have a talk to this teacher.
“Fold your hands, you, too, Grandma,” Tommy waited as hands were folded. “Come Lord, Jesus, be our guest and let Your gifts to us be blessed. Amen. Now we can eat.”
The next day Grandpa asked to talk with Tommy’s pre-school teacher and confront her about the prayer issue. He had enrolled Tommy in the Lutheran pre-school so that he could learn English. Tommy’s French was impeccable, but he needed English if he was going to be in America for a year. Grandpa didn’t believe in this Jesus that was taught and he would give this teacher a piece of his mind.
The teacher asked Tommy to play with the toys while she talked to Grandpa. The two talked for an hour. She witnessed to the faith in her heart as Grandpa questioned each statement. The two parted with the compromise that Tommy could pray, but Grandpa wouldn’t listen.
Christmas came and Tommy was all excited, he would play a shepherd in the school pageant. He wanted Grandpa and Grandma to sit in the front row. Grandpa beamed with pride at Tommy but was uncomfortable in his chair as he heard how Jesus was born to save him from sin.
By Easter Tommy was speaking English with the best of his class. He was memorizing the Bible passages and had Grandpa saying meal prayers with him.
Tommy invited Grandpa and Grandma to the Easter service and they heard the story of the Risen Savior. Tommy shared the story that night as he made Grandpa say prayers with him.
Shortly after Easter, Grandpa was admitted to the hospital. Cancer had spread throughout his body. Tommy asked his teacher if she would come and visit Grandpa.
Grandpa and Tommy’s teacher spent an hour talking – she sharing her faith in Jesus and the wonders of heaven – he wondering if it could be for him.
The pastor came to visit. Grandpa shared how scared he was of dying. Pastor shared the Good News of salvation won for all by Jesus. It was a free gift.
Tommy ran to tell his teacher the news, “Grandpa was baptized last night and he wants to see you.”
Teacher walked slowly to the bed and touched Grandpa on the arm. He woke and smiled when he recognized her.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Thank you for sharing Jesus with Tommy. Thank you for meal prayers. Thank you for the peace I feel in my heart. God bless you.”
Tommy held onto his Grandma’s hand at the funeral home as he looked into her eyes and said, “I am glad Grandpa is in heaven with Jesus.”
Such is the influence of the Lutheran schools. All across America stories can be shared just like this – children learning about Jesus at the teacher’s feet and then becoming the evangelist for the family. Yes, Lutheran schools train evangelists on fire with the Gospel. They eagerly share their faith with all who will listen.
Every time a school faces problems over finances, every time a school board wrestles with issues of personnel, every time a teacher questions why they go on, it would be good to remember Tommy’s Grandpa. Grandpa is walking the streets of heaven because one teacher shared Jesus with one student – who in turn shared Jesus with his Grandpa.
Let us never tire of training up children.