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The Pinecone
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November 2016
• 9 •
f r om Don J oh n s on , K i r b y P i n e s Chap l a i n
Chaplain’s COrner
A teacher asked her students to list the names of their fellow
classmates on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each
name. They were then to think of the nicest thing they could say
about each one in their class and write it down on the paper. The
assignment took the entire class period. Each student handed in
his or her paper.
Over the weekend the teacher wrote every student’s name on a
separate sheet and listed everything every classmate wrote about
the person.
On Monday the teacher gave every student his sheet listing all
that the other classmates had written about them. Very quickly
then entire class was smiling. One girl said, “Really? I never
knew I meant anything to anyone!” Another said, “I didn’t know
others liked me so much.” No one ever mentioned the papers in
class again. The teacher never knew whether the students even
mentioned the assignment to their parents, but the project seemed
to accomplish its purpose. When the school year ended, this class
moved on.
Afew years later, one of the classmates who entered military service
was killed in Vietnam. A funeral service was held for him. The
church was packed. One by one those who loved him walked by
the casket, former students first and then the teacher. A soldier who
was a pallbearer stepped up to the teacher and asked, “Were you
Mark’s math teacher?” When she said “Yes,” he replied, “Mark
talked about you a lot.”
After the funeral the former classmates and teacher joined Mark’s
mother and father for lunch. His father said, ”I want to show you
something.” He pulled out a wallet that was found on Mark when
he was killed. From the wallet the father pulled two worn pieces of
notebook paper that had been torn, taped and folded many times.
The teacher knew immediately that the papers were the ones she
had given to Mark, listing all the good things his classmates had
said about him. Mark’s mother said to the teacher, “As you can
see, Mark treasured this.”
Then the former classmates began to speak. Charlie commented,
“I still have my list. It’s in the top drawer of my desk at home.”
The wife of another, Chuck, said, ”Chuck asked me to put his in
our wedding album. “I have mine too. It’s in my diary,” replied
Marilyn. Vicki pulled her worn list from her wallet saying, “I carry
this with me at all times. I think we all saved our lists.”
Thankful Always
Then the teacher began to cry…for Mark, for his family, and for
all his friends who would never see him again but who would
never forget him or each other because of her assignment. It was
so simple, yet so profound. Writing something to someone who
perhaps didn’t feel welcomed or loved reaching beyond ourselves
to others.
Has anyone ever spoken or written a word of appreciation or
encouragement to you? Sometimes, especially as the years slip by,
we wonder if anybody notices us or cares about us. It’s been said,
“Give flowers now while they can be smelt and enjoyed, not later
when the person we would honor is gone.” If we ever intend to
speak nice words, let’s say them while they can be heard.
If we had our name at the top of a sheet of paper so that others from
family or friends could write about us and what we mean to them,
what would be written? Would the list be long or short?
Through the years I’ve received a number of such comments:
from a lady in prison who listened to my messages on the radio…
from teenagers who were touched by God in one of my youth
programs…from parents and older people who prayed for me and
gave me rich encouragement through difficult times...from those in
hospitals or homebound who longed to be prayed for. These notes
I cherish and pray I can live up to each special expression.
Have you written a thankful note to anyone else? Now would be
the time to do that! Make that phone call. Jot down your gratitude
for another and get it to them. Make that visit you have meant to
make.
I hope this will be that start of a special list for you. You will never
know what you mean to Cheryl and me. “For this reason, ever since
I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s
people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you
in my prayers.”
Ephesians
1:15-16
May this be
the start of our
Thanksgiving
Always.
Till next time,
Don Johnson,
KP Chaplain
November Vesper Services
•
6:30pm
•
Per forming Ar ts Center
November 10th
Reverend
Les Hilton
Collierville Baptist Church
November 17th
Doctor
Jimmy Latimer
Redeemer Evangelical Church
November 24th
No Service
Happy
Thanksgiving!
November 3rd
Reverend
Kevin Presley
Emmanuel Methodist Church