The Preacher/Teacher and a Black Youth

                                

The Preacher/Teacher and a Black Youth

     What made a black youth respond in positive way to a preacher/teacher?

    What made the woman at the well in John chapter four respond in a positive way to Jesus?

   Love!

   Jesus saw the woman at the well as a person that needed his love. He saw a woman of worth and of tremendous value to the Kingdom of God.

   Some years ago while I was teaching in an elementary school a young man came into my self-contained class. He was deeply troubled. He had difficulty  in reading, math and writing.

   I worked with him for almost three years, teaching and developing him.

   At the end of fifth grade this young man increase his reading, math and writing. Before the students moved on to middle school, we had a graduation ceremony. To everybody surprised in walked this youth,was dressed in a black suit. They were amazed, because he was the only one who wore a suit.

   When it was his time to receive the certificate he came up to me, shook my hand, and gave me a hugh!

  After the ceremony his grandmother came up to me and said,

   “Rev.Smatt, thank you so much for working with my grandson. His dad is in prison and he has no adult role modle, and now he  is so proud of his accomplishment, that he went out, and bought himself this suit.”

   I later asked the assistant principal, why has this young man responded to me.She said,” Because he saw you loved him.”

   Dear friends, I believe what brings people together, of all races, is for us to look beyond the color of their skin and see people created in God’s image . To see people as God sees them, which are people of worth and value?

   I believe that we need to demonstrate love by our actions, words and deeds.

  Jesus said in John 15:13,” Greater love has no one than this, than to lie down’s one life for his friends.

Love,

Eddie