Tough And Tender

Our speech by reason of darkness. Job 37:19 Growing up in a small town in Minnesota was a good news/ bad news scenario. Like every small town everybody knew everybody's business. That created a close knit sense of fellowship. But as my rebellious brothers flexed their teenage muscles it created a bad news situation for my parents. My parents, fed up with the authorities at our door, pulled a dramatic move and uprooted the family. I was forced to finish 11th and 12th grade in a high school that was almost as large as the town we had fled. Now I am not a shy guy. I enjoy talking to people where ever I go. But back then I was angry at my parents for disturbing my perfect world. I became sullen and withdrawn. I actually went days without talking to anybody. It was during these times that I began to write down my feelings. The writer in me was born as expressing my emotions became my therapy. The teens in my new environment tried to reach out to me. But I would have nothing of them. There was a group that was involved with Young Life. I could see the love they had for each other but my heart was so bitter about the move I would not allow them to enter in. Instead of accepting their invitations to join in I persecuted them with my pen. I wrote a vicious poem called the Jesus Freaks. Like Saul, I persecuted them. I mocked them. Four years later while on an appointment with an old high school buddy from my small town I walked in and he was doing a Bible study. I lashed out at him. I spit venom and declared, " Why are you wasting time with that hogwash?" Today I live in a house with my two teenage boys. One presents ideas that are agnostic. The other has professed but is not walking. My choice is to love them where they are at. I will be tough for my stance for the cross but I will be tender in my actions. You to might be trying to witness to a loved one. You too might be facing ridicule and venom. It could be someone at work or someone sleeping in your house. Don't shrink back. Pray for them as I am sure I had prayers for me. Don't give up for they live in darkness and know not what they do. Love them through it with a tough and tender heart. Believe in a someday where they will be using their talents for the King. How perfect we are in His eyes. He has forgotten every sin. He stands with open arms and whispers " Come on in." I bow now before the King and speak His precious name. It was for me that He died. I shall never walk in shame.