Forgetting Neediness

Girma went back to school this past week and he was pulled aside by one of the teachers and told to leave and not come back.  In the past, when students have gotten scholarships, their classmates have poisoned them or beat them causing serious bodily harm.  He was advised to stay home and not go out unless necessary. Evidently what compounds this jealous rage is the fact that Girma is, in the eyes of many here, a “nobody,” a person from the street, without name or family.  The seeming capriciousness of Girma’s good fortune is unsettling to all those Girma will be leaving behind – people who also struggle, who also do their best.  A Christian friend cautioned – “Be careful, this is clearly God’s plan, because it is so unusual to have happened in this way; God must have a very special plan for Girma, therefore Satan will do all he can to make problems for Girma.  You must pray more.” 

It was not as if we were totally going to relax, we did, after all, just add another teenager into the family; but after several days of thanksgiving, our minds have been drifting onwards.  Kevin O’Shea had these words for us from Hosea (13:6) “When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”