Love Always Trusts

This Week's Story

Two days before my 8th-grade graduation, my classmate Fred told Sister Mary Louise exactly where she could go, and it was not a place of harps and cherubs. All breathing ceased. The clocks died. The earth stopped revolving. I couldn't even turn my head to watch him stomp out for fear I'd turn to stone. We all assumed Fred would never be seen again by anyone, ever.

The next morning, Fred rose from the dead and walked to his desk like it was any other day. Then Sister Mary Louise summoned me to hers. She whispered, "When class starts, I want you to raise your hand, stand up, and ask if we are going to let Fred graduate with the class."

The walk back to my desk was the green mile. But Sister said do it, so I did it. I stood. "Sister, are we going to let Fred graduate with our class?" There. Done. Relief. Then, before I could sit down: "Well, I don't know. What do you think, Kim?"

WHAT DO I THINK? You didn't tell me I had to THINK! I squeaked out, "Sister, Fred is our friend." Others chimed in. Sister relented, and Fred walked at graduation.

Here's the thing. Even after she ambushed me in front of everybody, I still trusted Sister Mary Louise completely — because she had never once lied to me, not about life lessons, chewing gum, or how to diagram a sentence. That's what trust is built on. And it's a picture of a bigger trust: trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Even when He puts you on the spot.

This Week, Day by Day

My Prayer This Week