BJ

I continue to write about what a young person has said to me. My only wish is that I had kept a journal through all my years of teaching, on what they taught me through their innocent words. This time, I am telling you about BJ.
BJ was my quiet fifth grader. It was my third year to have him, in a low-level class I instructed. He was like a teddy bear, with a sweet face, a bit overweight, a child who never got excited about anything. His temperament was gentle, always speaking in the same, rather monotonous, voice.
He was in a class of eight boys. If you know boys, you are aware of them not being able to sit still for too long. They like to be active, releasing their never-ending energy. But not BJ. He was content, observing his classmates, as they participated with excitement in my planned activities. Because I had had the same eight boys for three years, we were like family, not hesitant to say anything in a dialogue. Sweet BJ would take it all in, but rarely wanted to join us in our discourses. During our fun and stimulating discussions, with the boys calling out answers to my questions, BJ would not say a word. Once, I went over to him, going through some motions as if I was playing charades, and asked him if he could figure out what I was attempting to say. He could not. I had pretended to light a match, placing it under his desk. I said I was trying to light a fire under him to make him become alive. Knowing my sense of humor, he and the other boys gave me a big grin. The fire quickly went out. That was okay, as BJ made me have a grin, being just himself.
To see if my students have retained what I have taught, I throw a beanbag to one of them, asking a question as I toss it. They are to answer the question once they have the beanbag in their hands. This is what I was doing one afternoon, after having an extensive unit on the journey of Lewis and Clark. We had spent weeks learning about their two-year expedition, with many exciting activities completed. The boys had great retention of their travels between 1804 and 1806.
Throwing the beanbag to BJ, I asked him to tell me when Lewis and Clark returned from their journey. For several seconds, he was pondering upon the question, his eyes telling me he was searching for the answer in his mind. Ah, a reply suddenly came to him. He announced, “About eight o’clock!”
Once again, BJ made me grin! What could I say? Maybe they did return at that time. What a precious answer! I did tell him that they might have returned around eight, but it was not quite the answer I was looking for.
What is great is that BJ never tried to be anything else but himself. It is the way God wanted him to be. So often, people try to be like another being, hoping they will fit in better to the norm of society. However, this is not what God wants. He gave each of us a special gift, placing it in our souls at the moment of conception. It is up to us to open this gift and share it with all. BJ did a beautiful job of sharing his gift. He brought smiles to many, using his spirit in the way God planned.

THE MESSAGE BEHIND THE STORY

This is the time of year where we hear the story of the prodigal son. It is a well-known parable, giving us a powerful message. There are family involved, actions of the family, and reactions to actions taken. It was only within the last five years that I looked up the word ‘prodigal’ in the dictionary. All along, I have to admit, I thought the word had meant something along the line of a wandering person, wanting to spread one’s wings. I was surprised to see it meant someone who spent lavishly and extravagantly. I have shared this definition with both the young and old. Many are surprised to find out the true definition, all thinking as I did in terminology. Learning the meaning adds to the dimension of the story.
We have one brother who stays home, doing all of the duties formerly shared by both siblings. He does just what his father asks, obeying him in every sense of the word. In the meantime, we have the other brother who could not care less about helping his father, out having a good time, spending the money, which was to be his after his father passed away.
However, the money runs out and suddenly it is not fun anymore. The only path to take now is the one that will take him home. He likely does a great deal of thinking during his journey, being ashamed for his actions. He has hurt his father, made his brother do all the tremendous work involved in keeping a property in good shape, and spent money that actually was not rightfully his until after the death of his dad. Oh, how his head must be hanging low!
To top it off, the father can only stare out at the vast land, hoping that someday his son will return. He cannot help the other son work the land, as he is too forlorn at the loss of his child, wondering if he will ever come back home. Granted, he did give the inheritance to him early. Maybe he thought he would spend the money wisely, making him proud, trusting him to do so.
Alas! He is there in the horizon, only a tiny figure, slowly walking, almost home to make amends with his father and brother. “Dad” gets excited, telling his staff to get ready for a big celebration for this lost soul. Wait a minute! What about the son at home, serving him all this time? As one student said to me, “What a rip off!”
After prayer and conversing with God, I began to understand more fully what was going on here. While one son did all the motions of being a good son, never pausing to question all of his assigned duties in honoring his father, the other son returned going through the Emotions to care rightfully for his parent. He was willing to become a servant, if that is what it would take.
His father was ready to forgive, wanting him to wear the shoes and robe of a family member, not be barefooted as the servants were. He was welcomed back into the family, forgiven for his past actions.
One message here is that all of us need to take a step back and think if we are going through just the motions when we are there for another, or are we putting our emotions into what we do, nourishing our actions with love and care. What a difference it can make! The recipient can feel the love, rather than feeling only a void, duties taking on mechanical movements.
Another message also comes forth, that of forgiving instead of holding a grudge. No matter how awful another has been, we need to let go of the anger the loved one has caused us. This is what God wants us to do, accepting the apology on one another. Someday, we may be the ones asking for forgiveness. Imagine your remorse, yet the other party only continuing to turn his back on you.
God would never turn His back on any of us, nor should we do so to others. No matter how bad it is, God will forgive. He does want us to repent. He knows when we are sorry. His love will grow stronger within one. There is a lightness upon the shoulders as forgiveness is given and accepted. In its place is character, wisdom, love and a new strength within our spiritual souls to live our lives in the image of God.