An inspiring story

I have been teaching P7 RE at Ballynahinch Primary since September and I have to say it has been pretty refreshing working with energetic, fun and not yet too cool for school kids for a change. I love the guys at the Edge but a change is nice.

The topics for P7 so far have been CS Lewis The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (nice one), and now the Amy Carmichael story. I have to say that I have found the latter one more inspiring.

Amy Carmichael is a lady who was born in the beautiful North of Ireland but lived most of her life in India giving homes and love to abandoned and abused children. It is a powerful story of full life commitment to Jesus and people but even better is the simple way her whole journey began.

It all started on her way home from church one Sunday. As they were walking they came upon an old lady struggling with the bundle she was carrying on her way somewhere. The situation really annoyed Amy because all the supposed Christians that had just been to church with her just turned their noses up at the lady and walked on by, probably judging her for doing anything physical on a Sunday.

Amy thought this was so hypocritical from people who supposedly followed a God who gave His life to serve and love them. Well Amy and her brother stopped and helped this lady even though they were embarrassed of all the terrible looks they were getting from those continuing to walk on by.

This event had such an impact on Amy that she decided to take the teaching of Jesus very seriously from that day on and would spend the rest of her life serving those in need. She made her life verse; “as you have done unto the least of these brothers of mine, that is what you have done unto me.” Matthew 25:40

I have found this story pretty challenging and inspiring. It has made me rethink what it means to really live the teachings of the Man that changed the world. And it is also cool how it was such a seemingly small and insignificant event that stated it all of.

Who knows what will happen to us today or tomorrow as we do to the people we meet as Jesus has done to us…