Romance In the 4th Grade
I sat next to Tom in the 4th Grade. The two long U-shaped table-like arrangements for seating made sure of that.
Tom liked me and the whole class knew it. I was flattered, of course, and tried not to let on that I liked him, too. After all, a girl could only take so much teasing, you know?
Tom would whisper corny jokes in my ear and get us both in trouble for stifled giggling in class. He would show me his grades, but no one else got to see those papers when Teacher handed them back.
Occasionally, I would call Tom outside of school. But not too often because girls didn’t call boys back then. And there was the time I called and Tom’s friend, Doug, answered the phone. Doug was a classmate. Did he have to tell everybody I’d called Tom?
Then one day the sands shifted, as they tend to do.
I was the tetherball champion on the playground. After repeated defeats, Tom finally determined he would win, and he did. I pretended not to care, but I hated losing that title. Everyone cheered for him.
Suddenly, Tom didn’t like me anymore. The next day, he showed Karen, who sat behind us, his grades. He made a point to snatch his paper away before I could see it.
Ah … heartbreak at 9 years old.
So much for romance!
The Face of Love
We all have a longing to be known and loved for who we are. The good news is: we are!
At one point in Jesus’ earthly ministry, a Roman Centurian came to Him with an agonized plea to heal his servant. I think the servant must have been a very close friend to the officer—like a brother. When death knocks at the door of our loved ones, we get desperate.
The Centurian pleaded for his servant and made a great faith statement that Jesus loved and commented upon. Jesus then sent the soldier on his way with the assurance that his servant was healed. I watched this scene enacted in one of the Jesus films. I don’t understand how an actor plies his art, but Jesus watched the Centurian leave with such a look of love on his face that left me longing.
I want Jesus to look at me that way!
And, as the Centurian left, he kept glancing back at Jesus. This man of great authority over the lives of many soldiers, yet peering at Jesus with childlike trust in his eyes.
I want to look at Jesus that way!
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