Everyone Wants and Needs To Be Accepted

Have you ever been in a situation where you just absolutely felt out of place? It happened to me at Deb's 20^th High School Reunion. It was at this very event that we came in contact with the church of Christ. Can you imagine that happening at this type of gathering? Actually, we didn't learn about the church that evening but had we not gone to that reunion we would probably still be worshiping in a different setting today. It was because of that reunion that we came in contact with two individuals who belonged to the Lord's church and they shared this good news with us later on. Of course all of you know the rest of the story, but maybe the following story will express what I'm trying to say more clearly.

One Sunday afternoon our family gathered around a big oak table for dinner. Soon my daughter Kate's laughter rose above the talk. “Gram, you're silly!” she said. We all turned to see mom delicately lifting to her mouth a small strand of peas on the blade of her knife. All but one pea made it, and everyone clapped. Then mom told us the story behind her unorthodox technique:

“When I was little we didn't have much. It was the Depression. But we did have a table full of food because my father grew wonderful vegetables. Lots of hobos who had jumped from the train wandered onto our property, looking for a meal. More often than not an extra dinner seat was pulled up to the table.”

“One summer afternoon I was sweeping the kitchen floor when my father's voice came through the screen door: 'Lizzy, set another plate. We have company tonight.' Our guest paused in the doorway and dipped his head in a gesture of gratitude. 'Look like he doesn't speak much English,' dad said, 'But he's hungry like we are. His name is Henry.'”

“When dinner was ready Henry stood until we were all seated, then he gently perched on the edge of his chair, his head bowed and his hat in his lap. The blessing was said and the dishes were passed from hand to hand.”

“We all waited, as it was proper, for our guest to take the first bite. Henry must have been so hungry that he didn't notice us watching him as he grabbed his knife. Carefully he slid the blade into the pile of peas before him, then lifted a quivering row to his mouth without spilling a single pea. He was eating with his knife! I looked at my sister May and we covered our mouths to muffle our snickers. Henry took another knifeful, and then another.”

“My father, taking note of the glances we were exchanging, firmly set down his fork. He looked me in the eye, then took his knife and thrust it into the peas on his plate. Most of them fell off as he attempted to lift them to his mouth, but he continued until all the peas were gone.”

“Dad never did use his fork that evening, because Henry didn't. Is was one of my father's silent lessons in acceptance. He understood the need for this man to maintain his dignity, to feel comfortable in a strange place with people of different customs. Even at my young age I understood the greatest of my father's simple act of brotherhood.”

Mom paused, looked at her grandchildren, and winked as she plowed her knife into a mountain of peas. [Contributed by Cori Connors, of Farmington, UT., to Guidepost, March 1997, p. 36]

If you were given the same circumstances, how would you have responded to Henry and his odd eating habits? Shamefully I would have to say that I would have probably caught myself, for a moment, snickering with my children. Everyone everywhere wants and needs to be accepted. Are you and I willing to accept everyone just the way they are? The Bible reminds us that God accepted us in love by sending His Son to die for us while we were sinners (Rom. 5:8). Are we not willing to do the same?

God's Blessings!