I Believe...
Children's Story
Michael was both excited and scared all at the same time. Tonight was his big night, for tonight he would stand up in church to be enrolled in the Christian faith. Michael wondered what would happen, and how he would feel. His Sunday school teacher had warned him that he might not feel any different, but deep down inside Michael was sure his life would utterly change. After all, he was committing himself to Jesus for life, so something wonderful was bound to happen.
It was an inspiring service, and when the time came for Michael and the others to stand up and profess their faith, all fear and anxiety left Michael. He suddenly felt full of confidence, calm and strong, and he knew that God was holding him.
After the service, everybody crowded round congratulating all the youngsters, and offering to help whenever they could. Michael couldn't see that he'd ever need help again, for now he was a Christian surely everything would be all right. As he walked home with his parents, Michael was overflowing with excitement. He couldn't help chattering, with the words falling over themselves to fly from his mouth.
"Now I know what eternal life is all about," he informed his parents. "I feel terrific, and it's because Jesus is inside me."
His mother shot a glance at his father, but replied mildly, "That's nice, dear."
Michael sighed. No wonder the churches were empty. They were full of people like his mother, who had no idea what it really felt like to be a Christian.
When he went to school next day he was full of a newfound confidence. There was a zing about him which people couldn't help noticing. A group of boys gathered round him, and asked him what had happened to make him so different. Proudly, Michael bore witness to his Christianity and to his Lord, grateful that God had given him this opportunity so soon after his commitment.
But to his astonishment all the boys began to laugh and jeer at him. One of them pushed him and he fell down in the mud, then he felt someone kicking him in the ribs. Michael tried to defend himself, but soon the whole gang of boys was on top of him, kicking and punching, tearing at his clothes and his hair, and all the time shouting nasty words into his ears.
When they eventually left him alone, Michael was covered in mud and blood was pouring from his nose and from a nasty cut in his cheek. He staggered home, hurting all over and feeling sore and humiliated inside.
It wasn't an isolated incident. After that, the boys used to lie in wait for Michael and attack him as soon as any of them set eyes on him. Michael began to dread going to school, and he didn't know what to do. He prayed and prayed and prayed, but it didn't make any difference. The boys were still there, and they still beat him up at every opportunity.
It went on for weeks and weeks, and Michael began to wonder whether there really was a God, for how could a God of love allow him to be treated in this way? Michael continued to attend church on Sundays, but his spirits became very low, for Jesus seemed to have completely deserted him. He began to wonder whether he'd been mistaken, and whether there was nothing in Christianity after all, as all his friends constantly told him.
One Sunday, an elderly man approached Michael. Michael recognised him as one of those who had been at his commitment service. "How are you doing, Michael?" asked the man.
Michael shrugged and stared at the ground. The man didn't say anything for a while, then he nodded towards Michael's face. "Nasty bruise you've got there," he observed.
Michael felt very close to tears. "It's nothing," he said, in as casual a voice as he could muster.
Then the man began to talk. "I was about your age when I made my commitment," he said. "It was tough going even then, although in those days most people made commitments. But I remember I was so full of myself. It felt so good, and I felt so sure of myself that I wanted to tell everybody, so that they could all share in my experience. I guess maybe I bragged a bit. It was quite the wrong thing to do." He laughed softly to himself, and for a moment seemed to have forgotten Michael, as he continued with his story. "Of course I wanted to witness to my Lord, but I hadn't quite realised that there are ways and ways of witnessing. The way I had chosen was just putting people off, and they resented my attitude. I'd thought I was following God's will, but in fact I wasn't listening to God at all, I was just following my own way."
Then he seemed to remember Michael, for he came to with a start and said, "Dear me, what am I thinking of? All this reminiscing! I came over to ask if you would go on the sidesmans' rota? When it's your Sunday, you just have to give out hymnbooks and service sheets and welcome people into church. It's a really important job, because if people aren't welcomed properly they soon lose interest. What do you think, will you do it?"
Michael found himself nodding and was surprised at how pleased he felt.
One of the best things about being a sidesman, was that Michael got to know the old man really well. He found he could talk to the old man, who really listened to him, and before long he was pouring out all his difficulties and problems. Nothing he said surprised the old man, who seemed to understand exactly how he felt. And although the old man hardly ever gave him any advice, somehow or other the situation at school got better and better for Michael.
He stopped trying to tell everybody about Jesus at every opportunity, and instead discovered a new sort of inner strength. He was calmer too inside, and the taunts of the other boys didn't seem to matter quite so much. He found he was laughing more, and life was fun again.
When Michael told the old man what he had discovered about himself, the old man simply nodded and said, "You see, there is a God after all!"
And Michael suddenly realized how God had heard his prayers. And he threw his arms round the old man and hugged him.
It was an inspiring service, and when the time came for Michael and the others to stand up and profess their faith, all fear and anxiety left Michael. He suddenly felt full of confidence, calm and strong, and he knew that God was holding him.
After the service, everybody crowded round congratulating all the youngsters, and offering to help whenever they could. Michael couldn't see that he'd ever need help again, for now he was a Christian surely everything would be all right. As he walked home with his parents, Michael was overflowing with excitement. He couldn't help chattering, with the words falling over themselves to fly from his mouth.
"Now I know what eternal life is all about," he informed his parents. "I feel terrific, and it's because Jesus is inside me."
His mother shot a glance at his father, but replied mildly, "That's nice, dear."
Michael sighed. No wonder the churches were empty. They were full of people like his mother, who had no idea what it really felt like to be a Christian.
When he went to school next day he was full of a newfound confidence. There was a zing about him which people couldn't help noticing. A group of boys gathered round him, and asked him what had happened to make him so different. Proudly, Michael bore witness to his Christianity and to his Lord, grateful that God had given him this opportunity so soon after his commitment.
But to his astonishment all the boys began to laugh and jeer at him. One of them pushed him and he fell down in the mud, then he felt someone kicking him in the ribs. Michael tried to defend himself, but soon the whole gang of boys was on top of him, kicking and punching, tearing at his clothes and his hair, and all the time shouting nasty words into his ears.
When they eventually left him alone, Michael was covered in mud and blood was pouring from his nose and from a nasty cut in his cheek. He staggered home, hurting all over and feeling sore and humiliated inside.
It wasn't an isolated incident. After that, the boys used to lie in wait for Michael and attack him as soon as any of them set eyes on him. Michael began to dread going to school, and he didn't know what to do. He prayed and prayed and prayed, but it didn't make any difference. The boys were still there, and they still beat him up at every opportunity.
It went on for weeks and weeks, and Michael began to wonder whether there really was a God, for how could a God of love allow him to be treated in this way? Michael continued to attend church on Sundays, but his spirits became very low, for Jesus seemed to have completely deserted him. He began to wonder whether he'd been mistaken, and whether there was nothing in Christianity after all, as all his friends constantly told him.
One Sunday, an elderly man approached Michael. Michael recognised him as one of those who had been at his commitment service. "How are you doing, Michael?" asked the man.
Michael shrugged and stared at the ground. The man didn't say anything for a while, then he nodded towards Michael's face. "Nasty bruise you've got there," he observed.
Michael felt very close to tears. "It's nothing," he said, in as casual a voice as he could muster.
Then the man began to talk. "I was about your age when I made my commitment," he said. "It was tough going even then, although in those days most people made commitments. But I remember I was so full of myself. It felt so good, and I felt so sure of myself that I wanted to tell everybody, so that they could all share in my experience. I guess maybe I bragged a bit. It was quite the wrong thing to do." He laughed softly to himself, and for a moment seemed to have forgotten Michael, as he continued with his story. "Of course I wanted to witness to my Lord, but I hadn't quite realised that there are ways and ways of witnessing. The way I had chosen was just putting people off, and they resented my attitude. I'd thought I was following God's will, but in fact I wasn't listening to God at all, I was just following my own way."
Then he seemed to remember Michael, for he came to with a start and said, "Dear me, what am I thinking of? All this reminiscing! I came over to ask if you would go on the sidesmans' rota? When it's your Sunday, you just have to give out hymnbooks and service sheets and welcome people into church. It's a really important job, because if people aren't welcomed properly they soon lose interest. What do you think, will you do it?"
Michael found himself nodding and was surprised at how pleased he felt.
One of the best things about being a sidesman, was that Michael got to know the old man really well. He found he could talk to the old man, who really listened to him, and before long he was pouring out all his difficulties and problems. Nothing he said surprised the old man, who seemed to understand exactly how he felt. And although the old man hardly ever gave him any advice, somehow or other the situation at school got better and better for Michael.
He stopped trying to tell everybody about Jesus at every opportunity, and instead discovered a new sort of inner strength. He was calmer too inside, and the taunts of the other boys didn't seem to matter quite so much. He found he was laughing more, and life was fun again.
When Michael told the old man what he had discovered about himself, the old man simply nodded and said, "You see, there is a God after all!"
And Michael suddenly realized how God had heard his prayers. And he threw his arms round the old man and hugged him.
