Good Day,

She was a special assignment teacher who got a call to go help an elementary school student.

The classroom teacher reported that the student was in the hospital and needed help with his homework so he wouldn’t fall behind. “We’re studying nouns and adverbs in class now, so please help him with this homework.”  She gave the special teacher the name of the hospital and the room number.

When the visiting teacher got to the hallway of the boy’s room in the hospital she suddenly realized that she was in the burn unit.  She hesitantly opened the door, and had to restrain her emotions as she looked at a horribly burned little boy, who was clearly in much pain.  Knowing that she couldn’t just walk out, she said awkwardly, “your teacher has sent me to help you with nouns and adverbs.”

The next day when she returned for another lesson the nurse called her aside. “What did you do to that boy?” she asked.

The teacher was confused and alarmed until the nurse continued. “We had been very worried about him; he was depressed, resigned, and not willing to participate in the treatments; but ever since you came yesterday, he’s got a whole new positive attitude.  He’s working with us enthusiastically, and it’s as if he’s decided to live!”

Weeks later, as he was leaving the hospital, the boy explained that he had completely given up hope and was certain he was going to die.  But, that when the teacher came, things changed inside him.  With tears in his eyes he explained, “They wouldn’t send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?“

Someone came who brought hope.

These days I am amazed at the things people put their hope in.

Instant diet plans and pills, lottery tickets, astrological signs, sure thing stocks, quick talking sales people, fortune tellers, get quick rich schemes, fat burning creams and much more...including… themselves.

But most of us have lived long enough to have learned that hoping in such things has a limited shelf life…and that putting our ultimate hope in ourselves and our abilities will someday come crashing down.

So while there is indeed good reason to put our hope in credible sources such as doctors and trusted advisors, and, to a degree in our loved ones and those we can count on, without one Other source of hope, we will always come to that chasm of fear that makes our hearts tremble and our legs shake, and make us doubtful if we can go on.

That One is God.  And we all will get to the point sooner or later of having to decide if we really believe that we can trust God...and if we decide “yes” then we will find the hope that cannot be shaken.

That teacher brought hope into the hospital room.

Jesus Christ brings the hope of God into our hearts and minds.

And makes us whole again.