Betty Jean Davis where are you?

Picture this:

 It’s 1954.  Central Elementary School. Shenandoah Iowa. It’s third grade recess. We  boys are playing kickball. The girls are standing around acting silly. Off to the side standing alone  is  Betty Jean Davis wishing some of the girls would talk to her or ask her to join them.  Betty Jean hoped some of the girls  might laugh with her instead of at her.  She’s wearing a pair of thick lens glasses  and she talks with a lisp. Her hair is a mess. It’s late October  and Betty Jean is wearing  a dusty, disheveled hand-me-down short sleeved dress.  She doesn’t own a long-sleeved dress. It’s 41 degrees. The girls teasing her were merciless and hateful.  The teacher was nowhere in sight. I wanted to say something to make them quit  teasing Betty Jean  but at the time I wanted to remain popular with the boys so I kept quiet.

 Once a week  we had story time in class. Betty Jean always told some outlandish wild story about our family. Everyone knew her stories were  made up. I think Betty Jean wanted beyond hope to just be accepted and liked. We thought she hoped Her stories would give her some measure of credibility and popularity among the rest of us.  They never did. 

 The first day of fourth grade Betty Jean didn’t show up. No one including the principal or teachers ever knew  what happened to her or her family. 

  God used my experience with Betty Jean to begin teaching me the gift of mercy. It is my primary spiritual gift today.  I was heartbroken even in third grade at the way some of the girls treated Betty Jean. We all know how wicked and cruel little girls can be. I regretted for years, even today,  not coming to Betty Jean’s defense over 60 years ago.  Betty Jean, I wish I knew where you were today.  I would ask you to forgive me and hug your neck and tell you how much Jesus loves you. Hopefully you already know.  I would love to be brother and sister in Christ with you.

Betty Jean if you’re out there I hope you’ll contact me here on my blog. If you leave contact information in a comment  I will surely follow up with you. We have 65 years of life stories to catch up on. 

Tune into For His Glory  tomorrow for John Ed’s latest post and Friday to see what God’s been sharing with me. May God richly bless you. 

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Editor’s Note: When I read this post on Shannon’s blog, I left her a comment saying everyone needs to read this message. In my opinion it goes to the heart and soul of the solution to many of our world’s social ills.  Enjoy.

By Shannon Moreno
Blogger over at Revelations in Writing

Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” – (John 4:7,9-10)

I so appreciate this exchange between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. He models for us how we can break down social and cultural barriers, and approach people where they are. Though society would have deemed her unworthy – to acknowledge, let alone speak to – Jesus approached her directly and spoke to her face to face. He was kind, honest, and offered the hope she had so long been looking for. As followers of Christ, we are called to do likewise. Our job is to break down barriers that society deems necessary, and show the world that they are not. We must touch the “untouchable“, love the “unlovable“, give voice to the silent, and meet the needs of those without. So many are misunderstood, misrepresented, and labeled as a result of their circumstances. May we be the ones who answer the call to love our neighbors as Christ has loved us – no barriers, no limits, just love.

Shannon is a long-time devoted blogger since 2011. I read her thought-provoking posts regularly. Shannon is a career teacher and coach and is raising two teenage boys. which in and of itself is a full time job. Read her posts on her blog at https://revelationsinwriting.wordpress.com

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Monday, February 18 — I Fought The Law And The Law Won

Tuesday, February 19 — When Jesus Broke The Law

Wednesday, February 20 — Big Bad Mr. “If”

Thursday, February 21 — What If No One Saw The Lily?

Friday, February 22 — What Is The Law And Why Do We Have It? Part I

Monday, February 25 — What Is The Law And Why Do We Have It? Part II

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