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I just want to share this story with those who are struggling with offense.
I was a Sunday school teacher for a toddlers class years ago. One particular Sunday, one of the little boys, who struggled with attention disorder, was wildly out of control that day. I had extreme difficulty keeping him from hitting the other children and snatching toys out of their hands, which was preventing me from teaching the class.
When his father came to pick him up after class, I chuckled, “He’s really on the go today.” The man was immediately offended. He angrily accused me of being unqualified to teach the class and promised to go to the pastor (who was his uncle) and the Sunday school board to have me removed immediately. I felt so humiliated as the other parents who were standing outside the door to pick up their children, heard him as well.
I was devastated! I loved that position and felt privileged that God had placed the tender hearts of those precious children in my care. When I got home, I sat down crying my eyes out as I wrote a letter to the man explaining that I did not mean anything by what I said, that I was so sorry and would he please forgive me that I might teach again. But the Holy Spirit strongly stirred in me to write another letter instead.
I then wrote a letter humbly agreeing with the man that I was absolutely wrong and that he was right in being offended at me. I also agreed that if I did not have control over the class, I should be removed. I repented to him for being insensitive and careless. I did not ask him to forgive me. I took the blame 100%, unconditionally.
I honestly thought God was stern in directing me to write that letter. I remember thinking, "This makes no sense, Lord." But I sealed it in an envelope and took it to church the next Sunday. The Lord instructed me to give the letter to the man in secret, that nobody else see it. The people of the church were aware that I had been removed and the situation had been settled. So I was not to make a deal out of it again. So I slipped into the church coat room and quietly handed it to the man and whispered, “I’m so sorry.” And I walked away thinking that was the end of it.
I was sitting about 4 pews from the front when the pastor began to lead us in singing a hymn. All of a sudden the man I had offended came walking up to the front of the church, squeezed down into the aisle toward me with his arms outstretched and tears streaming down his face. I was shocked! I stood up and embraced him as he spoke audibly in the presence of the congregation, “I am so sorry for offending you! Please don’t stop teaching our children.” It was like a wonderful dream!
Let me tell you, I felt overwhelming joy, because God restored the whole situation in an instant. And not only did the Lord teach me that day to follow His instructions exactly, but He showed me His Word is Truth.
These truths were worked out for me and that man both because I believed and obeyed the Lord. The man confessed to me later how hard it was for him to hear people gossiping about his beloved son like he was an animal. He thanked me for teaching his son and treating him kindly in the class. He told me I was the only teacher who his son would actually attend class with. His son liked me! What a gift it was to hear that! Ya know?
Anyhow, I just want to say that it is so awesome that the Lord Jesus humbly gave up His life for us to show us a better way to live. I am so grateful to God for His amazing grace to follow in His footsteps so that we can experience the beauty of life in Him.
I was a Sunday school teacher for a toddlers class years ago. One particular Sunday, one of the little boys, who struggled with attention disorder, was wildly out of control that day. I had extreme difficulty keeping him from hitting the other children and snatching toys out of their hands, which was preventing me from teaching the class.
When his father came to pick him up after class, I chuckled, “He’s really on the go today.” The man was immediately offended. He angrily accused me of being unqualified to teach the class and promised to go to the pastor (who was his uncle) and the Sunday school board to have me removed immediately. I felt so humiliated as the other parents who were standing outside the door to pick up their children, heard him as well.
I was devastated! I loved that position and felt privileged that God had placed the tender hearts of those precious children in my care. When I got home, I sat down crying my eyes out as I wrote a letter to the man explaining that I did not mean anything by what I said, that I was so sorry and would he please forgive me that I might teach again. But the Holy Spirit strongly stirred in me to write another letter instead.
I then wrote a letter humbly agreeing with the man that I was absolutely wrong and that he was right in being offended at me. I also agreed that if I did not have control over the class, I should be removed. I repented to him for being insensitive and careless. I did not ask him to forgive me. I took the blame 100%, unconditionally.
I honestly thought God was stern in directing me to write that letter. I remember thinking, "This makes no sense, Lord." But I sealed it in an envelope and took it to church the next Sunday. The Lord instructed me to give the letter to the man in secret, that nobody else see it. The people of the church were aware that I had been removed and the situation had been settled. So I was not to make a deal out of it again. So I slipped into the church coat room and quietly handed it to the man and whispered, “I’m so sorry.” And I walked away thinking that was the end of it.
I was sitting about 4 pews from the front when the pastor began to lead us in singing a hymn. All of a sudden the man I had offended came walking up to the front of the church, squeezed down into the aisle toward me with his arms outstretched and tears streaming down his face. I was shocked! I stood up and embraced him as he spoke audibly in the presence of the congregation, “I am so sorry for offending you! Please don’t stop teaching our children.” It was like a wonderful dream!
Let me tell you, I felt overwhelming joy, because God restored the whole situation in an instant. And not only did the Lord teach me that day to follow His instructions exactly, but He showed me His Word is Truth.
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding.
- Don’t judge as we don’t know what is in another person’s heart or what they are struggling with. (God does though!)
- Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.
- The Lord restores integrity and makes a situation beautiful.
These truths were worked out for me and that man both because I believed and obeyed the Lord. The man confessed to me later how hard it was for him to hear people gossiping about his beloved son like he was an animal. He thanked me for teaching his son and treating him kindly in the class. He told me I was the only teacher who his son would actually attend class with. His son liked me! What a gift it was to hear that! Ya know?
Anyhow, I just want to say that it is so awesome that the Lord Jesus humbly gave up His life for us to show us a better way to live. I am so grateful to God for His amazing grace to follow in His footsteps so that we can experience the beauty of life in Him.
