A Life Well-Lived, Part 19; Is Jesus Enough?

While Timothy was teaching English in the public schools of Taiwan, he shared with us (through skype) that he was allowed to tell the Biblical story of Christmas and Easter, provided it fit in the category of “American Traditions,” and it was used to teach English. So, all the 5th graders in the 5 schools he taught got to hear the gospel throughout the schoolyear! Some time after Timothy returned home from his year in Taiwan, he casually asked, “Did I ever tell you about that little boy?” “What little boy?” “There was a boy in one of my classes. The translators told me he never even tried to do his schoolwork because he lived with his father and grandfather, both alcoholics, and no one cared if he did his schoolwork or not. They said he didn’t have a 'copy' (their word for 'role-model'). So every day, this kid would just throw his homework in the trash as he walked out of class.” At about that point, Timothy got distracted by our busy household, and didn’t finish the story. Days later, I asked him, “So, what happened with that little boy (I forgot his name. Let’s say Lin.)? “So, yeah, I tried to interact with Lin during class and recess, but for a long time, he wouldn’t let me. One day, I noticed he was giving the other kids piggy-back rides at recess, like I was doing. He was acting like he and I were the playground leaders, and all the other kids were just … kids! Then one day during a break in class, one of the translators whispered to me, ‘Look! He’s copying you!’ I had one elbow on the table, resting my head on my hand, and Lin was looking back and forth from me to himself, trying to make sure every bend of his arm matched mine and his head was cocked to just the right angle.” “Aw," I smiled, "How sweet!” Timothy chuckled at the memory, and walked off. I mentioned to Herb one evening that I never could get to the end of this story Timothy was telling me about some little boy. Herb said, “That’s because he can’t tell it. It’s too sad.” Herb always believed he could read other people's minds. Lol! But maybe he was right this time. Now I was even more curious and determined to get to the bottom of it. The third time I caught Timothy for the rest of the story, he continued, “Well, on the last day of school, when Lin suddenly realized I was leaving, he grabbed his English paper and brought it to me, wanting me to show him how to do it. He finally wanted to learn English -crash course - on the last day! But there was just no way. I said, ‘I’m so sorry, but it’s too late.’ I told him I had to go, but he begged me to stay. He had tears in his eyes.”

And so did Timothy.

And so did I.

I said, “Oh, Son! Why didn’t you bring him home with you?! I’m sure his dad would have signed papers for him to come to America!” Timothy looked shocked! “Mom! I’m not married! I don’t have a house! I have to work!” “You could have brought him HERE! He could have stayed with US!” My heart was breaking for Lin. Suddenly bonded to a boy I had never met, and always trying to fix things, I suggested, “Maybe you could have just stayed another year in Taiwan?” “Mom, even if I had stayed 6 more years, they would all still be sad when I left. It would never be enough.” I had to agree. I was beginning to wilt, realizing the hopelessness of the situation. “But Mom, he’ll be OK. I left him with Jesus.” And with that emphatic statement, Timothy walked off, and “Lin” was never mentioned again.

I remember at the time, wondering “Is Jesus really enough?” I had always believed so, but for a little kid? With no one around who really cared? No church? No preacher? How would he make it?

After Timothy flew to Heaven, I contacted several people who had taught in Taiwan with him, trying to check on “Lin,” but without a name for the boy or the school, it was a fruitless search.

This "Timothy story" troubled me, because it didn’t have a happy ending. It didn’t have an ending at all, really. But while I was praying about what to do with it, I was reminded of an article I had read about the Flood family who served as missionaries in Africa in 1921. They faced immense opposition to spreading the gospel and were not allowed to speak to anyone in the local village except a little boy who brought them food twice a week. Mrs. Flood led the little boy to Jesus, but she died in childbirth (at age 27) before they were given freedom to evangelize the village. Mr. Flood became bitter, lost his faith, abandoned his baby daughter to another couple, and left the mission field. It seemed to be a washout. Years later, the now-grown baby daughter, Aggie, discovered that there were thriving churches and over 100,000 Christians in the area of Africa where her parents had once lived. After doing some research, she found that the “delivery boy” her mother had won to Christ had spread the gospel throughout the region and was responsible for the large number of believers there. Aggie was eventually able to meet the man who, without a preacher or a church, had turned the country upside down for Christ. All because Mrs. Flood left him with Jesus.

I believe someday I will meet “Lin,” either in this life or the next, and I will get to hear the rest of the story… of how Jesus was enough.

“Father God, remind me, wherever I go, to give them Jesus – even if it’s just a child - even if it seems hopeless. Remind me that our paths may never cross again, and that you can use every seed that is planted to grow your Kingdom. Thank you for this reminder that there is always hope! In Jesus’ name, Amen."

John 12:24 “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Read the rest of the story of Svea Flood here: https://www.epm.org/.../Feb/18/story-eternal-perspective/