Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

It’s only natural that everyone has favorites. My favorite dog breeds have a smashed nose and short hair; favorite candy is milk chocolate; favorite season is summer, etc. My favorite grade-school teacher was Mrs. Zula Oldham because she was Dad’s first cousin, so that made her special to me. I can’t say I was her favorite student because she was too wise for that; she treated everyone in her classroom the same. When I was a kid I watched The Smothers Brothers show (1967-69) and I still remember how Tommy would tell Dickey, “Mom always liked you best.“ A mother should never have a favorite child but, for this comedy act, Mrs. Smothers did and it made America laugh out loud.

I’ve had some very important teachers in my life. My parents were wise and loving teachers and now that they’re gone, I continue to live by their example. Mrs. Murray was an exceptional piano teacher and I’m still playing and using the knowledge that she taught me. My high school Driver’s Ed teacher was a very brave man and I still utilize the safety precautions that he taught.

We never outgrow our need for a teacher. No matter how old we are, we simply don’t know everything there is to know. Life is full of daily situations where we have to make a decision, so we need help in making the right choice. The last thing we want to do is choose poorly and suffer the consequences. Jesus knew all about this serious dilemma and took care of it before He returned to Heaven.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will be your teacher in all things and will put you in mind of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26 BBE). I appreciate knowing that I have a “Teacher Spirit” inside me 24-7. It’s like having my own built-in teacher/counselor/helper that’s 100% accurate, dependable, and based on God’s Word. It’s comforting to know that the Holy Spirit is available and on standby for every believer. We should never underestimate or take for granted the wisdom, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit in our life.

I like to study scripture verses from different translations and let the truth sink in deeply. The Passion Translation for John 14:26 reads: “But when the Father sends the Spirit of Holiness, the One like Me who sets you free, He will teach you all things in My name. And He will inspire you to remember every word that I’ve told you.” God has given His Spirit to help us in our faith walk, and to give us wisdom and understanding as we endeavor to live in His will. The Helper (Holy Spirit) wants us to have insight into the big decisions in our life as well as the small. A spirit of peace will be the green light concerning the right choice. Allow peace to rule as the umpire in our decisions.

With so many countless paths to follow, we need to rely on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to keep walking in the right direction of God’s will. Christ followers need to fine tune our hearts to hear the gentle Holy Spirit’s voice over all the others. There’s no limitations — the “Teacher Spirit” will teach us everything, whether big or small.

The Key: I’m still listening and learning, and my favorite Teacher is the Holy Spirit.

I should not be surprised by how God redirects my life by taking the focus off of me and putting it on Him.  You would think I would have figured it out by now.  Thick-head, I guess.  Last week was a perfect example of how this plays out in my life.

As I wrote a few weeks ago, I spent a few days in Lexington, Kentucky, passing out 75 free books to Christian bookstore owners.  It was an expensive weekend.  From it, one store owner contacted me and asked if I would come to her three stores in Iowa to do book-signings.  Maybe I can sell a hundred or so books which will help make up for the financial loss of Kentucky, I told myself.

I booked three nights in a motel and drove to Iowa, excited to tell buyers about A Little Faith Lift.  On Wednesday, the first day, I sat at my table for seven hours and sold six books, three to Francine, an employee in the store. As it turned out, I was positioned near the children’s section, so I purchased $85 worth of Christmas presents for my grandkids.  More than I made.  This was not working out as a sound investment opportunity.

The second day, after eight hours, I had sold three books (two more to Francine who worked at that store on Thursdays), and the third day, two books.  And yes, Francine worked there that last day and told everyone who entered the store how great my book was.  They did everything but run through the glass shelves lining the middle of the store when she pointed me out to them.  I might as well have had a plaque hanging around my neck.  “I have Covid.”

Imagine!  Rejected in a Christian bookstore.  Perhaps fodder for a second book?

At any rate, what I witnessed in those three stores blessed me beyond measure.  Each had special needs’ patrons who hung out during the day, receiving love and kindness and one-on-one attention.  I was told ahead of time what to expect, but I had no idea these employees would show the kind of compassion and respect they did.

Melissa was blind, autistic, socially inappropriate and suffered with turrets. She pulled up a chair and sat beside me, and we “visited.”  She, as it turned out, was an expert on dates, especially the day she became a Christian… “July 7, 1995. That’s the day when I asked forgiveness for my sins and knew that Jesus had died on the cross for me. The best day of my life.”

Austin was an “employee” who worked two hours each morning, logging data into his computer with the aid of a personal helper.  John visited the third store two-to-three times a day, each time finding something (usually under $2.00) he wanted to purchase and asking the clerk to “put it on his tab.”  Which she did.

When a young, college student approached the counter, Windy, the owner, spent over 30 minutes with him, encouraging him and praying with him.  Of all the people I met, however, Francine was my favorite.  She was a gap-filler.  Whatever needed to be done, she volunteered.  My first day, she told me about the youth group she would sponsor that night.  “Wanna speak to them tonight,” she asked.  I said that I would love to.  It was a blessing I did not deserve.

Next week, I will share my experience with those teens and that church.