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WRITE 2 THE HEART
Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart"
April 8, 2004
Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com.
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Janet prayed for God to show her if she was making the
right choice for her son. God was faithful to send exactly the
right teacher for Tim and for Janet also.
Exactly the Right Teacher
By Janet Seever
Autumn leaves drifted down on a sunny Saturday
morning in late October 1985. I stood watching our children
through a sliding glass door in the house where we were
temporarily staying. Rachel, three, was rolling in the leaves,
while Tim, six, was busily making piles with a rake. Noticing
me standing there, Tim came over to the door.
"Mom, did you see the big pile of leaves I made?" he
asked, a grin spreading across his face.
"Yes, I've been watching you," I said. "You're doing a
great job."
I was glad to see the two of them playing and acting like
normal children. All the changes they had been through in
the past three weeks had taken their toll, making Tim and
Rachel confused and fearful.
Three weeks earlier, my critically ill husband, Dennis, our
two children and I had boarded a plane in the Philippines
where we had been doing mission work. Now we were half
a world away in Minnesota. Tim, Rachel, and I had stayed
with various family members while my husband was
hospitalized for open-heart surgery.
A mechanical heart valve now clicked loudly in Dennis's
chest. Diagnosed with congestive heart failure and given just
a few weeks to live, he now had a new lease on life.
Throughout the ordeal, we had seen God's provision for
us in unexpected ways. This house where we were now
staying was one of these provisions. Del and Louise, a
couple from our church whom we knew only slightly, had
graciously opened their home to us. After ten days with
them, we would be moving into a housesitting situation in
another suburb.
Del and Louise's house was in a Minneapolis suburb
where we knew no one -- a fact which made what happened
the next Monday all the more remarkable.
A former teacher, Louise was concerned that Tim was
missing school. After three weeks away from school, he was
showing little interest in his reading and math workbooks.
"Tim needs structure to his days," Louise told me that
Saturday morning. "I know the principal at the elementary
school, and I've arranged for Tim to attend there on
Monday."
"Do you think that's a good idea for such a short time?" I
asked. "After all, he will soon be attending a different
school."
Louise assured me that school was the best place
for Tim.
Later that afternoon, as I thought over the plan, I
wondered how Tim would fit in. Would it be another
traumatic experience for him? Would the teacher feel
resentful having a student for only a few days?
That evening when I told Tim that he would be going to
school on Monday, he was not thrilled by the prospect.
"Mommy, I don't want to go school," he pleaded, fear
showing in his brown eyes. "I want to stay here with you."
That night I wrestled with the issue. "Lord, show me that
I'm doing the right thing in sending Tim to school," I prayed.
"He's been through so many changes already."
After breakfast on Monday, Tim, Rachel and I got into the
car with Louise, who drove us to the nearby school. She
introduced me to the principal and then stood by the office
holding Rachel's hand to keep her from following us. The
principal, Tim, and I walked down the hall to the first-grade
classroom.
"Miss Nibbe is good with children," the principal assured
me, tapping lightly at the doorway of the open classroom.
"I'm sure she'll make Tim feel right at home. I've already
arranged with her for Tim to join her class."
A pleasant woman about my age came to the doorway.
After the principal introduced us to her as "Tim and his
mother, Mrs. Seever," Miss Nibbe turned to me. "I know
you," she said. "You're Jan."
I was stunned. "How did you know?" I gasped.
The principal looked dumbfounded.
"Your husband used to be active in our singles' Bible
study group about ten years ago," explained Miss Nibbe.
"The group still meets. When a couple of our group members
heard that Dennis was critically ill in the Philippines, we all
started praying for him. We've been praying for your family
since that time."
Then she turned to her class, "I want you to meet Tim,
who has been living in a country which is far away. The
country is called the Philippines."
"Andy, Joel and Christy," she said to several students
near the front of the room, "please show Tim the art project
you're working on."
Tim was already happily absorbed in activity by the time I
left.
As the principal and I walked down the hallway, he turned
to me. "How did she know who you were?" He repeated the
question several times, not quite believing what he heard.
After I got back to the house, I found the get well card
Dennis had received from the Bible study group. One of the
people who had signed that card was indeed Marilyn Nibbe.
And yes, Dennis did remember her.
"Thanks, Lord," I later prayed, "for showing me that you
were taking care of us all the time. Thanks for providing a
teacher who understands Tim's needs perfectly and for the
wonderful 'coincidence' of her knowing Dennis. In more ways
than one, she is exactly the right teacher."
Janet Seever
jseever1 @ shaw.ca
The mother of two adult children, Janet Seever lives in
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with her husband, Dennis. She
writes for Word Alive magazine and has had articles
published previously on in magazines and on the Web. You
can reach her at jseever1@shaw.ca or read more of her
writing at www.inscribe.org/janetseever
You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know
what you think of their story. Have a comment on today's story?
Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com.
Letters From Our Readers
After reading Angela’s story, I wondered what a “Foster
Mom Flunkie” was. Then it dawned on me, she failed
because she adopted them. Oh, I see. I’m afraid I would do
the same thing.
Stacie
Isn’t it funny how when you love animals you are willing to
do anything for them? I wish more people would visit
shelters and take home a new member of the family. It’s
much more rewarding than getting a high priced puppy that
needs months of training. Way to go Angela.
Lace Tims
Military Prayer Reminder
As you read over this list of names, please take a moment to
pray for these young people and their families:
Chris Speir
Tim Speir
Alan
Thaddeaus
Howard
Todd Holland
Graham
William
Julie Sagel
Jessie
Marshal Thompson
Jason
Eric Hernandez
Kristin Danielson
Ken Prieur
Ryan
Jonathan P. Wells
Larry Miele
Daniel
Amy
John
Joanne
Gary Boardwine
Josh
Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and
our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military,
or who are being called to go overseas, send their names
(first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer
reminder.
Cheryl’s Corner
Youngest son Jeremy walked into the kitchen and told me
all of his friends respect me. “Why is that?” I asked, fully
expecting some off the wall reason.
“It’s because you cook!”
His friend Seth was walking in behind him and said, “That’s
right, you are always cooking something every time I come
over.”
“That’s because I’m a stay at home wife who was raised
in the south. I believe it is part of my job to make sure a meal
is fixed each day.”
Seth told us his mom rarely cooks. Many times he has a
bowl of cereal for supper. I know his mom works hard and
must be tired when she gets in and told him so. He agreed.
As he and Jeremy walked out of the kitchen, they were both
saying they wanted to marry someone who stayed at home
and cooked. I can’t help but wonder, did I just contribute to
making two girls happy? Or miserable.
Cheryl
Copyright © 2004, Write 2 the Heart
Nothing may be reproduced or published without
the written permission of the individual author or
copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.
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