I’m tutoring a very sweet girl who had a very sour attitude
during our last tutoring session. She didn’t feel like learning or listening
and I didn’t feel like dealing with her or her attitude. My patience was
running low – real low. I stopped trying to teach and we prayed. Before the end of our prayer, I opened my
eyes, looked up and the sweet girl’s middle finder was staring me dead in my
face. GASP! I can’t begin to tell you
the number of thoughts that immediately raced through my mind. She wasn’t able
to lie about what she did because I caught her in the act. I questioned her
actions and she fully admitted her wrong.
I was so angry, I silently prayed again asking God how to handle my
anger and her actions. I was led to talk about the Jesus we were praying to and
the reason he died on the cross for us. She listened intensely - I had her full attention. I found out
she had never seen a picture of Jesus on the cross, so I purposely searched the
Internet for the bloodiest portrayal of Jesus I could find. She looked at the
picture and was in shock. Well, we were even because I was in shock when I saw her
middle finger in my face. Later that evening, I thought about Jesus on the
cross saying, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” I thought
about the little girl and said the same prayer for her. I then asked for
forgiveness for myself for wanting to judge her and break her middle finger. I’m
reminded once again - it doesn’t matter what it looks like or how bad it seems,
if I stay focused on God, He can use ALL things for His glory and my good – ALL
things…even the middle finger.
