Ignoring The Hope Stealers

Ignoring the Hope Stealers

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give [my sheep] a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10

Judy’s parents couldn’t stop smiling the day she graduated from college. Occasionally, as they took dozens of photos at the ceremony and the family party, her mother even giggled. After they had waved good-bye to the last guest, her parents pulled her to the living-room sofa.

“We have something important to tell you, honey,” her mother said. “And when you hear it, you’ll understand why we waited until now.”

Judy, bewildered, looked at her parents’ shining faces.

Her mother took a deep breath. “When you were in junior high, your class took some standardized tests. When the results came back, we were called in by the counselor and were told you would never graduate from high school because of your low scores. We were stunned but determined not to tell you about the meeting because we didn’t want you to get it into your head you couldn’t graduate.”

Then Judy’s mother smiled again. “And I told that counselor he’d better not tell you the scores, either, because you were going to graduate from high school and college!”

Judy’s mind raced as she remembered the many nights her parents had taken turns tutoring her in math and quizzing her before various tests. How they had cheered her on during the four long years of college, saying she could do anything she wanted to do. And what she wanted to do was be a teacher. Today’s graduation had provided that hard-won certificate.

Seeing Judy’s bewildered look, her mother continued. “The only reason we decided to tell you now is because we never want you to make that counselor’s mistake and tell parents their child can’t do something. We want you to be optimistic about every child’s potential and suggest positive, concrete ways parents can help children fulfill their potential.”

Judy’s eyes filled with tears as she hugged her parents and managed to whisper a hoarse “Thank you.”

Today, Judy’s teaching career has spanned two decades, during which she has encouraged students to reach their dreams. And when parents are discouraged about their child’s progress, Judy tells them of her own parents’ determined hope that changed her life. —SANDRA

Lord, help me to remember that people often become what we tell them they are. Help me to offer hope to others. Help me to offer that same encouragement to myself, too.

When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God. —CHARLES L. ALLEN (1913–2005), AMERICAN PASTOR AND COLUMNIST