Kathryn Lindholm-Leary,
Child and Adolescent Development
San Jose State University
[Oct 11, 2009] —
I don’t do enough for my students. It took a note from a little girl in the Philippines to make me realize this.
Last November I bought a jacket with a faux fur collar for an Operation Christmas child. As I shopped I prayed that I would find what she needed and wanted.
A few months later I received a picture of a 13 year-old girl wearing her jacket, and a thank you note that read:
“Dear Lady: In my life I always wish to have a jacket
and God give it to me, He use your family to be the way.”
So Perfectly
When I read the letter and saw how well the jacket fit her (with probably another season of use), I felt such awe for our God. I had purchased the jacket with the expectation that it would fit, but was truthfully astonished that she wanted it so much and that it fit so perfectly.
Why do I continue to be amazed that God answers our prayers so perfectly? God loves all of His children, and He can meet needs in the most incredible ways.
I have students who are making important life decisions, who are facing various difficulties, and sometimes who are moving further toward or away from God. What if I prayed for all my students over the course of the semester, what impact would that have?
The Needs Of Our Students
Some of our wonderful Christian faculty members have mentioned in their MMMs that they do pray for each of their students. What if we all made a greater effort over this academic year to pray for the needs of our students? God knows what they need even when we don’t.
I started this summer reading The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision. His message is that we need to care for all of God’s children, beginning with specific prayer for their needs. I truly believe that message and am trying to make my life more consistent with it.
“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:40.
And, as my “Christmas child” remarked, “You gave happiness to all the children like me and we learn more about the word of God.”
Isn’t that what we are here for, regardless of whether they are in a far away country or on our own campus?
© 2009 Kathryn Lindholm-Leary