Trees Walking

A Guide to Truly Loving and Forgiving Others … and Ourselves

By Cheryl Rogers

Kindle Edition

Copyright 2012 by Cheryl Rogers, Tampa, FL

Extracts from the Authorized Version of the Bible (The King James Bible), the rights in which are vested in the Crown, are reproduced by permission of the Crown’s Patentee, Cambridge University Press.

Trees Walking may be copied and shared with individuals as long as it is not altered. It is available for free at the New Christian Books Online Store and other e-retailers. Please contact the author at http://www.songsfromtheword.com/NewChristianBooks/contact with any requests to distribute or sell this ebook.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: Men as Trees?

Chapter 2: Separating Others from Sin

Chapter 3: Equipped by God

Chapter 4: The Truth That Sets Us Free

Chapter 5: Choosing the God

Chapter 6: Walking Away from Unforgiveness

Chapter 7: Loving Ourselves

Chapter 8: Staying Humble

Chapter 9: Never Give Up

Food for Thought

Conclusion

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Thanks be to God for teaching me the lessons in this ebook, and most of all, for the gift of sight. Thanks also to Pleasant Valley Ministries in Thomaston, GA, the ministry of Pastor Henry Wright, which has greatly influenced my life through its teachings. Pleasant Valley, which teaches people about the spiritual roots of disease through its Be In Health programs, helped me to separate myself from sin. Dr. Wright’s teaching is used with permission.

Introduction

“And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

“And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

“And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

“After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

“And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.” Mark 8: 22-26  KJ/AV

As I sat in church, the words from Mark 8: 22-26 seemed to jump at me as they were spoken aloud. God’s Word was going forth – and it was not going forth void. It carried life. It carried …  spiritual sight.

It was 1998. For most of my life, I’d been spiritually blind. I didn’t know God. I didn’t know His Word. But I’d surrendered my life to God and he was moving in a powerful way.

That day, like the blind man in Bethsaida, I was able to see men as trees walking. Soon afterwards, I was able to see every man clearly.

In Trees Walking: A Guide to Truly Loving and Forgiving Others … and Ourselves, I share biblical truths that set us free from unforgiveness, enabling us to truly see others as part of God’s precious creation, just like the trees.

Chapter 1: Men as Trees?

We love trees. They give us oxygen, shade and fruit of many kinds. Their leaves are sometimes used medicinally: Olive leaf extract, for example, is used to kill fungus, viruses and bacteria. Sour orange tree leaves can be brewed into a tea with Vitamin C to combat colds and flu. And these are just a couple of examples. So if we think of men as trees, that’s a good thing.

But just what did the blind man at Bethesda mean when he said he saw men as trees walking? He wasn’t literally seeing people with branches and leaves.

No, the blind man had been given a measure of spiritual sight: He now recognized men were part of God’s precious creation. Like the trees, men were made very good.

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31 KJ/AV

Elsewhere in the Bible the analogy of men and trees is repeated.

In Psalm 52, David says “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God…” Psalm 52:8  KJ/AV

And in Jeremiah it says:

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the Lord is.

“For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17: 7, 8  KJ/AV

The vision of men as trees walking is incomplete, however. In Mark 8:25, the Bible tells us the man “saw every man clearly” after Jesus laid hands on his eyes a second time. After his healing, he was sent home with the admonition not to tell anyone in town what Jesus had done for him.

The book of Mark doesn’t explain exactly what the man was now able to see. We have to look elsewhere in the Bible for a clear understanding.

Chapter 2:  Separating Others from Sin

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, evil gained a foothold in the world. The dominion originally given to man was usurped. Man had a sin problem.

Because of that, it’s understandable to some extent that we regard others and ourselves as tainted evil beings. Unfortunately, that view can lead us to hate those precious creatures made in God’s image.

The Bible clearly tells us we were made very good, but somehow things changed. Were we now evil? God doesn’t see us that way.

The Bible tells us we are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

And in Romans, it is clear we have an enemy inside us who actually is doing the sinning.1

“Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” Romans 7:20  KJ/AV

Least you doubt, it pops up again.

“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7:23  KJ/AV

There are many people without God in their lives who, no doubt, who have become one with sin. Not only because they’ve inherited that sin, but because of bad choices and because of weakness. They are driven by demons, or used by demons, to accomplish evil in this world. These people may hate themselves for the people they’ve become.  They may feel powerless against the enemy. Or they may for a time relish their role.

The backslidden are similarly entrapped in an evil they are temporarily enjoying, or an evil that has overpowered them because of their wrong choices.

If someone is saved, and walking in it, we have to believe the evil they commit is a temporary glitch. It was sin rising up in them – they did something they really hadn’t planned. Or they were temporarily deceived. Or they had a temporary lapse in good judgment. It becomes much easier to choose to forgive when we recognize their inner weakness.

So what was the man in Bethesda able to see after Jesus touched his eyes the second time? It was how demons were using the people around him … to attack him. Jesus sent him home – to his place, where he would be protected.

We learn we are vulnerable to attack when we are out of our place in Genesis 39, through the story of Joseph. Joseph, who was sold into slavery in Egypt against his will, rejected sexual advances from Potiphar’s wife. Even though Joseph was innocent, he landed in jail. He was far from home, out of his element. Though none of it was his own choice, he still paid the price. 2

1 I learned this truth through God’s servants at Pleasant Valley Ministries in Thomaston, GA. That teaching is used here with permission.

2 Joseph, Master of Dreams, A & E Mysteries of the Bible, The Bible Greatest Heroes.

Chapter 3:  Equipped by God

Seeing man the way God does will help us forgive others and ourselves. In Jeremiah 13, we get a picture about how God made us. It’s in the parable of the girdle that God explains we were made weak, so we would need God.

“For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory...” Jeremiah 13:11 KJ/AV

Because we are weak, we are vulnerable to our enemies. Adam and Eve are great examples of this truth. They had it made in the Garden of Eden, but they were easily deceived by the devil. They were deceived even though they knew God.

People without a relationship with God are even more vulnerable. Without God, we are all prey to the lies of the enemy – lies that would cause us to hate our brothers and ourselves. Lies that would cause us to blame each other for something the devil and his demons have done.

Imagine the devil laughing, and his demons laughing, at us for buying his lies – lies that only entangle us in sin … and more sin. Why don’t we decide they won’t have the pleasure?

So what can we do to protect ourselves? First and foremost, we must have a relationship with our creator. That means we know God, not just know about God. The Bible tells us he knows the proud far off, but accepts the humble. It tells us we are nothing without God.

“Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.” Psalm 138:6  KJ/AV

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15: 5,6 KJ/AV

What we must do is simple: We must talk to God!! We must be humble before him and acknowledge we need help. We can never assume we can be good enough for a holy and righteous God.

Then we must surrender to God. The reason? How can we expect him to help us if we are not willing to cooperate?

The Bible tells us all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

“…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9  KJ/AV

In Acts, belief again is recognized as the thing we must do.

“…Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16: 30, 31  KJ/AV

We can say a simple prayer like this: Father, forgive me for all the ways I’ve fallen short of what you ask of me. I commit my life to you now. I will try my best to do what you ask. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God stands by to empower us to live free of sin.

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9  KJ/AV

Chapter 4: The Truth That Sets us Free

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12 KJ/AV

When there is a troublemaker in our life, or a group of troublemakers in our lives, we may regard them as our enemies. When our country is at odds with another, that country is considered an enemy. But the Word of God tells us our enemies are not flesh and blood. That means our fellow man – and our even the animals that share our planet with us – are not our enemies.

That may be hard to believe when someone is pointing a gun at you, or a dog is growling at you and looking at you like you are lunch. But it’s important to get the record straight. When we do, God’s truth sets us free! Our true enemy is uncloaked and his lies no longer have the power to enslave us. We are free to love and forgive others – and ourselves!

“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165 KJ/AV

Knowing the truth enables us to distance ourselves from any psychic pain we may be experiencing. We can acknowledge they need help, they are sick; the problem is them, not us. Instead of second guessing what we did to provoke a confrontation, we can just accept the inevitability of attack. If we have made a mistake, we can repent and not belabor the issue.

Even though we are not comfortable right now, even though we may not feel victorious, when we have the truth we have the victory. We are no longer enslaved to the lies of the enemy. We are no longer in bondage to hatred for an enemy, who is not really our enemy.

We are free to sow forgiveness. We are free to love.

The Bible tell us: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4: 7,8  KJ/AV

Love seeks to cover sins, not expose them. Love seeks to excuse, not to accuse.

“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” Proverbs 10:12   KJ/AV

Chapter 5: Choosing the Good

Knowing the truths from God’s word makes it a whole lot easier to choose forgiveness, but we still need to make that choice. If we need further encouragement, we need look no further than popular verses about unforgiveness in Matthew 19: 23-35.

In this parable, a man owed a king ten thousand talents but could not pay his debt. The king graciously forgave the debt, but learned later the man refused to forgive a debt of hundred pence owed to him. The king was understandably angry.

“O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

“Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” Matthew 18: 32, 33 KJV/AV

The king then reversed his decision to pardon the man.

“And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Matthew 18: 34, 35  KJ/AV

Choosing to forgive is easier when we acknowledge we ourselves have received forgiveness – and that we ourselves need forgiveness.

It’s also easier when we ask ourselves these questions. Why would we want to hold a grudge against someone who is struggling as much as we are? Why would we want to hold unforgiveness against someone who is weak like we are? Why would be want to regard as an enemy someone who is not, indeed, our enemy?

When we apply this logic, choosing the good becomes not only simpler, but wise.

Chapter 6: Walking Away from Unforgiveness

Despite the truths of God’s Word, there may be times when we are tempted to take in hurt and woundedness. There may be times when we are so incensed by what someone has done to us that, despite these truths, we cannot stomach his or her presence in our lives.

God gives us tools for such a situation. In these cases, we are exhorted to pray.

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?”  Matthew 5: 44-46  KJ/AV

When we pray, we are showing God’s love for them. We are following Jesus’ example from Luke 23:24. When Jesus was dying, he asked the father to forgive them because we didn’t know what we were doing.

We are following Stephen’s example before he died, when he prayed:  “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. ” Acts 7:60  KJ/AV

And we are cooperating with God’s grace to overcome evil with good. Sure, we can give in to self pity and defeat. But we also can choose victory in the power of HIS might. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21  KJ/AV

Chapter 7: Loving Ourselves

What we’ve learned about loving and forgiving others applies to ourselves as well. When we regret our wrong choices, we now have the tools to choose love.

It’s actually a good thing to hate that evil; now we can choose to separate ourselves from it. We can love ourselves because we know the truth: We too are weak and vulnerable. We need God’s grace to overcome the devil. No matter how good our intentions, that evil within us can sometimes temporarily overpower us or deceive us.

Yet loving ourselves involves taking a stand – against more than unforgiveness. Sometimes it means setting livable boundaries with someone in the grips of the devil. Loving ourselves means we don’t have to say yes over and over again to someone who has repeatedly abused us – either verbally, emotionally or physically.

If we’ve been there and done that, we’ve forgiven and given them a second or third chance, and it is clear they have not broken the evil pattern, we need not put ourselves in line for more abuse. We are perfectly justified to say I love you, I forgive you, I wish you the best, but I won’t tolerate this anymore.

Taking a stand for righteousness is not only your redeeming grace, but it may be theirs. Sometimes, just sometimes, your stand will emotionally jar them enough for them to recognize – and grab hold of – that opportunity to change.

Even if they become angry, and your stand creates division between you, you will have expressed yourself. When your demands create distance, you will have a measure of freedom from abuse or other intolerable conduct. You will have space and time to heal.

Situations vary and God knows what’s right for you. Praying for guidance and counsel is always advisable.

Chapter 8: Staying Humble

Forgiveness is extremely important, but it’s important to avoid some common traps that also may tempt us when we are mistreated. A common one is being judgmental. Another one is pride.

The Bible tells us:

“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” Romans 2:1  KJ/AV

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18  KJ/AV

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:6  KJ/AV

Chapter 9: Never Give Up

After we forgive, we may find we still remember the hurt, sometimes repeatedly. We may find the words spoken to us still sting. Or we may find memories painful. Very likely the enemy still is trying to keep us captive. At times like these, we need to affirm that quality choice to forgive. We need to continue to set aside that hurt by reminding ourselves who our true enemy is.

Again, the Word of God has some sage wisdom for us. We should never allow our anger to fester. We should deal with issues that arise quickly before a rift widens.

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath…” Ephesians 4:26  KJ/AV

When we focus on God and the things of God, we also are less likely to allow worldly matters to grow out of proportion in our minds. Exercising a kingdom perspective, we keep our mind filled with good things, instead of rejection and hurt.

“…whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8  KJ/AV

When we have a kingdom perspective, our focus is on the spiritual and not the physical world.  We are no longer in bondage to those things we see with our eyes – those things that give as pain, such as poverty, lack or rejection.

Food for Thought

These questions can be used in your personal time with God in your endeavor to truly forgive others. Or, they can be used as discussion questions in a group Bible study.

Who do you have trouble forgiving?  Why?

Do you need to take a stand against their wrong choices? For their sake? For yours?

Do you need to limit their involvement in your life out of love for yourself? Others?

Conclusion

It has been my goal to provide all the tools necessary to truly love and forgive others and ourselves. I believe these tools should make it easier than ever to forgive those who wrong us… even if that person is us!!

There still may be times when we will need to repeatedly remind ourselves, and repeatedly choose, to forgive. Remembering who is our real enemy is key.

About the Author

Cheryl Rogers began her writing career in the newspaper business. A Miami native, she currently works as a freelancer in Tampa, FL, writing and editing on a variety of topics. One of her specialties is Christian ebooks because she can share her faith.

Cheryl came to know the Lord as an adult after a devastating illness. She now writes for all ages to encourage them to seek God and stay connected with this Word.

Among her ebooks are Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook, a devotions books aimed at new and young Christians age 10 and up. This non-denominational book includes 40 short lessons with prayers that encourage Bible study and help us live the victorious Christian lifestyle.

She also has written Finding God: Biblical Answers to Questions about Our Maker, a book aimed at those who doubt God’s existence or feel God is not answering their prayers.

Her fiction story collection for preteens and teens, Just Like Jonah Wail Tales, teaches there is a price to pay when you disobey. In each tale, the main characters land in a whale of trouble for making the wrong choices. When they repent, God restores them.

Also targeting 10 to 14 year olds is the novelette Lost in the Woods: A Bible Camp Mystery. The book is about 13-year-old Zack, who disappears in the woods during a back-to-nature styled retreat. Their first-ever camping trip turns into a nightmare when the no-see-ums strike at dusk, more than half of the campers become ill, and a hurricane takes an unexpected turn for the Gulf Coast as the boys search for missing Zack.

Cheryl publishes New Christian Books Online Magazine, a free publication with book announcements and book excerpts, digital book news and features.

Cheryl holds a B.A. in Journalism and Sociology and worked for 12 years in the newspaper business honing her writing, interviewing, copyediting and photography skills. She then launched a desktop publishing company offering typesetting services to print shops. She also brokered printing jobs for clients.

Cheryl distributes e-books from her website, Songs from the Word, where she sells her original Scripture poster designs featuring her nature photography. Contact Cheryl through her website or through Facebook, Linkedin, Zazzle or Elance.

xxx

An Excerpt from Just Like Jonah Wail Tales

By Cheryl Rogers

An Election Too Close to Call

Steve stayed close to the basketball as his opponent was dribbling, his hands poised to snap it from under the other boy’s control. The score was 30-30 and the two middle school teams were battling for the season championship. Steve was his team’s top player, and all eyes in the auditorium watched as he slapped the ball away and began dribbling it toward his team’s basket. With an ease that comes from long hours of practice, he gracefully flung the basketball through the hoop as the bell shrilled, signaling the end of the game!

The crowd’s cheers were almost deafening as Steve’s teammates carried him around the court celebrating their team’s victory. He held his arms upwards with clenched fits yelling “B-L-A-Z-E-R-S, blazers are the best!”

Steve had practiced every day after school, sometimes with the team and sometimes with a friend or two. He’d been playing regularly since third grade and it showed. Coach Billy relied on Steve for those tough plays, especially when the pressure was on to perform. Steve seemed oblivious to the pressure. It was almost as if the basketball, hoop and Steve were alone in the auditorium, his concentration was so intense. Naturally outgoing, he enjoyed the glory that came to him after sinking the tough shot, over and over again.

Steve’s success on the basketball court spilled over into other area’s of his life. The girls recognized him as a winner and frequently crowded around him to praise him for the team’s latest victory, and his contributions to it. Even the teachers seemed to keep up with the team’s accomplishments – and Steve’s.

Steve seemed to know instinctually that hard work paid off, and he applied the principle to his school work as well, earning good grades most of the time. He also inherited his father’s handsome visage, which he noted with pleasure every time he carefully combed his thick wavy brown hair in the mirror. He’d smile at himself and say, “You handsome devil you,” as he put his comb into his pant pocket to save it for later.

For a seventh grader, Steve was remarkably successful, making him the envy of some of his male classmates. Things were especially keen when he beat Ken Sanderson for class president a couple of days ago. Ken got excellent grades and was known for starting the school’s first chess club. Some people said he’d demonstrated his leadership abilities and smarts, and that he was the natural choice for president. They’d even made some completely unjustified remarks about his not being a dumb jock. There was no way you could say Steve was a dumb jock, not with his As and Bs. Even if he didn’t get all As like Ken, he was a lot more well rounded.

Steve was really just a popular all-around good guy, whose accomplishments were noted over and over. It happened so often that Steve was beginning to believe he was invincible, on the basketball court, and off.

Shortly after his victory as class president was announced, Ken came up to him to congratulate him.

“Hey Steve, I am happy for you man,” Ken said. “It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Well, except for me, of course.”

Ken smiled awkwardly. “You know Steve, I don’t mind helping out – if you want me to, that is,” he continued. “I’ve got lots of ideas I hoped to try.”

“Yeah well thanks, I have other officers,” Steve said. He threw his sweater over his shoulder and strode down the hall, without a second glance at Ken.

Ken was stunned and he wasn’t the only one. Ms. Gable, the student council moderator, who was quietly watching the conversation from inside her classroom, was stunned as well. She approached Ken, hoping to help him deal with the rejection she knew he was feeling.

“Would you mind stepping into my classroom for a minute, Ken?” she asked. “I want to talk to you about something.”

Unbeknownst to the candidates, the election was actually close, very close – so close Ms. Gable had not been sure she should announce the outcome. She had decided to trust her volunteer counters and give Steve the victory, even though he’d won by 10 of 150 total votes. But she was disturbed by what she had just witnessed – very disturbed.

“It is not customary for us to reveal the vote counts in the Student Council elections,” Ms. Gable began. “But I want you to know you did very well. I hope you are not discouraged by the outcome. I hope you are not discouraged from running for office again, or from helping the Student Council.”

She smiled.

“I guess you just saw what happened,” Ken replied. “I appreciate what you are trying to do, but do you really think my help is wanted? I have the feeling if I lived on another planet it would not be far enough away for SOME people.”

“Ken, I am in an awkward position. I did see what happened and I don’t believe you were treated properly. I will deal with Steve later, but right now I want to know your thoughts. I think you behaved admirably in offering your services. I believe you demonstrated the kind of quality leadership we need at Clark Middle School,” Ms. Gable continued. “I wish I could say the same for Steven.”

“In my role as moderator of the Student Council, I not only am responsible for overseeing the fairness of the election but the integrity of its members. Do you promise to keep what I tell you a secret, just between us, until I say differently?”

Ken was shocked. Ms. Gable was talking to him like an adult. Taking him into her confidence? What could this be about? The only way he could know was to agree to her terms.

“Of course, Ms. Gable,” he blurted out. “What is it?”

The words came tumbling out. Ms. Gable could scarcely contain herself. The election had been close, so close, that she had almost demanded a recount. But it was late and there was no reason to distrust the verdict delivered by the vote counters.

“Perhaps I made an error, Ken. I don’t know how to go back now unless ... you want a recount. I realize this is putting you on the spot, but if you want it, I could ask for a recount.”

“Uh.” The room was silent as Ken contemplated the decision he was being asked to make. It didn’t seem like a decision a seventh-grader going or eighth grader should have to make.

“Let me see if I get this straight. You want ME to decide if I want a recount?” he asked in disbelief.

“I want you to understand something here Ken,” Ms. Gable continued. “This is not like some political election where you can demand a recall or anything like that. This is between you ... and me. I think I made a mistake here. It may not affect the outcome. I really don’t know. But if it does, I would like to make it up to you. I want to know if you still want the job – if you really won, that is.”

“Heck yeah, I want the job. I ran for it, didn’t I? If anything, I want it more now to knock that guy off his throne,” Ken said. “I still can’t believe what he did.”

“Alright, Ken. This is what we are going to do. I will recount the votes personally and if there is a change I will talk with Principal Holcomb. He must agree if the results are to be overturned. In the meantime, mum’s the word, okay?”

“What if I blab?” Ken asked, eliciting a stern look from Ms. Gable.

“You’d look like a sore loser for questioning the election results, which already have been announced,” she said crisply.

“Gotcha.” Ken left the room, leaving Ms. Gable to her duties.

She shook her head from side to side sadly, wishing she’d recounted the votes the first time. If Steve were the true choice of the student body, she’d be battling his ego all next year. Luckily, she’d kept the ballots. She opened her desk drawer and removed a box containing the votes, slowing beginning to count them. As she approached the final votes, she felt excitement and dread. The outcome was Ken, 46; Steve, 45; Marie, 32; Justin, 15; and Karen, 12. She quickly recounted the votes, returned them to the box, and headed to see Principal Holcomb. He was as disturbed as Ms. Gable when he learned the news.

“Ms. Gable, I do wish you had done a recount before all this happened. But I understand you had no reason to doubt the outcome of your volunteers. You promised a recount to Ken and I stand by you on that,” Principal Holcomb said. “I wish we could just declare there was an error, but I don’t think it is fair when the difference is one vote. We must have a runoff election – as distasteful as that may be.”

“A runoff for eighth grade president?” Ms. Gable asked rhetorically. She was almost as stunned as she had been when she overheard Steve and Ken’s conversation. “We’ve never had a runoff as long as I’ve been here.”

“Nor as long as I have been here. I’ll make the announcement at the end of the day,” Principal Holcomb concluded. “The final election will be in one week. We will not tell anyone how close the election was. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, of course,” Ms. Gable replied.

“If one of the candidates wins by 10 or less votes, you Ms. Gable, will decide who the winner is. And no more is to be said of it. Understood?”

Ms. Gable sighed in relief, looked straight into Principal Holcomb’s brown eyes, and said: “Yes sir. Thank you very much.”

The campaign was especially heated considering the turn of events, but Ms. Gable cautioned both candidates they must not resort to name calling, insults or anything which would tarnish each other’s reputations. Failure to do so, she warned, would result in immediate disqualification. So the days passed by with many promises being made, more than any eighth grader could ever deliver, no matter how well intentioned. When the verdict was in, Ken had made a resounding victory, apparently garnering many of Marie, Justin’s and Karen’s votes.

Although Steven had many fans from helping his team win the basketball championship, the memory of the team’s victory had faded somewhat. The school’s Chess Club had recently been named first place in the district’s contest. It was heading towards state competition and there was quite a bit of excitement about that, at least among some of the students.

Steve had a hard time adjusting to his status as a loser, but Ken offered to let him run the Fundraising Committee.

“I’d like to try to raise money to redo the gym floor,” Ken explained. “I thought you might have a special interest in that.”

Steve remembered, with remorse, how he’d treated Ken. Now Ken was offering him a job, when he wasn’t willing to do the same for Ken. And he was even giving him an opportunity to help the Basketball Team. Steve hesitated. He felt like an ant. Maybe an ant whose legs had been squashed.

“Nah. It is nice of you Ken, real nice. But the student body has spoken. They don’t want me, so they’ll just have to do without me.”

“Suit yourself,” Ken shrugged, walking off and wondering whom else he could recruit for the job.

Just as before, the conversation was overheard, however. Word got around that Steve didn’t want to help the basketball team and his popularity waned. When Steve tried to talk to the girls, they gave him the cold shoulder. It hurt the most when he was preparing to join Katie in the lunchroom, only to find Ken seated next to her, intently discussing her assignment as President’s Advisor. They never had a President’s Advisor before, but they sure did now, and Ken was making full use of that situation to get to know Katie better. It sounded like she was advising him about the seventh grade class’s first dance! He walked by quickly and settled in with some other friends, who finished eating quickly and left him sitting by himself. He was having that feeling of being an ant with squashed legs again and he didn’t like it. So he decided he’d better study his math. He hadn’t been doing so well at that either.

Steve’s life seemed to be unraveling in other areas as well. He was frequently angry and stormed off when people tried to talk with him. Impatience seemed to rule him and his chores were frequently left unfinished. The same could be said for his homework. Although his good grades from earlier in the year succeeded in carrying him through most of his classes, he would be in summer school math. He was no longer allowed to spend as much time practicing his basketball. He was truly miserable and he did not know why. He wasn’t sure what had gone wrong, or why. As he sat at the desk in his room trying to do his math assignment, tears began falling from Steve’s eyes and he sobbed and heaved, uncontrollably. Steve’s mom stuck her head inside the door.

“Steve, what is wrong? Tell me what is wrong.” She entered the room, gave him a hug and waited for him to explain.

“Aw, mom. Everything has gone wrong in my life and I don’t even know why. I was doing great at school, great at basketball, I had lots of friends, and then I had to go and run for Student Council. Once I lost that, everything seemed to fall apart.”

“It’s not about Student Council, you know that. Do you remember what I told you when you ran in the runoff? It’s not about winning, it’s about serving. If you didn’t win there, you can always serve somewhere else.”

She thought for a moment.

“Everything we have is a gift from God, Steve, and we need to give him credit for our successes. Have you prayed about this?”

“Well, no. I don’t like to pray much. We go to church.”

“You do know, I trust, that God can fix things for you. Don’t you think he was behind things going so well before?  Why don’t you ask him if you did something wrong?” His mom left the room to give him time to think and pray.

Steve kind of felt warm inside as he guiltily remembered how he’d treated Ken when he’d offered to work with the Student Council. He remembered his mother’s words about serving. To Steve, winning was another chance at power, to prove his value and make others like him. It had never been about serving. He also realized he’d taken credit for all the successes he had, after all he’d worked hard at basketball, and his studies. Well, heck, he even worked hard to keep well groomed, stopping to check himself in the mirror frequently throughout the day! But his efforts were not enough now. He couldn’t even control his emotions like he used to. It felt like God closed the curtain on his life.

Steve decided to pray, like he’d never prayed before. He surrendered his life and circumstances to God and asked God to forgive him for not recognizing and crediting him for the successes he’d had in life. He ended with a declaration of trust that God would make things work out the best for him, whatever that was. He wiped the tears from his face and went to the bathroom only to see himself as a wreck in the mirror. He washed his face and carefully combed his hair. Just then the telephone rang and it was Katie, asking Steve if he would reconsider his decision not to head the Fundraising Committee.

“Steve, I hope you don’t think I’m being too forward. Ken did say he asked you before, but I plan to be working closely with that committee and would really appreciate your help. We should have someone from the Basketball Team involved and you are the likely choice.”

“When you put it that way, Katie, how can I refuse?” Steve replied, putting aside his feelings of rejection. This job was starting to sound good, after all.

“Okay, I’ll put you down. Talk to you later, Stevie.”

It was a start. Things weren’t back to normal, but they were on the upswing and Steve had God to thank. He returned to his room and thanked God for what he was doing. Then he did his homework so he could play basketball later.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Men as Trees?

Chapter 2: Separating Others from Sin

Chapter 3: Equipped by God

Chapter 4: The Truth That Sets Us Free

Chapter 5: Choosing the God

Chapter 6: Walking Away from Unforgiveness

Chapter 7: Loving Ourselves

Chapter 8: Staying Humble

Chapter 9: Never Give Up

Food for Thought

Conclusion

About the Author