My sister Nancy has a buoyant and friendly personality. Until recently she also had bright red hair so that she stood out in a group. When she was first married she taught second grade in the public school.

One day in October while she was teaching, her principal entered the room with a red-headed second grade boy. The principal handed Nancy the boy’s file and said, “You have a new student, Warren Tichman.” Nancy glanced at the transfer paper and saw that Warren had been transferred twice already, both times for “personality conflict” with the teachers.

Nancy placed the student desk face to face with her own desk and told Warren that that was his desk. A month later when his mother came for her first conference Nancy showed her Warren’s work and that it was quite satisfactory. “Yes,” said his mother, “but how is he really doing in the class?” Nancy told me that she decided to be honest. “How do you think a little red-haired boy would do in my class?” she asked.

When the mom left, there were tears in her eyes. Her son had found wholly unmerited favor. When Nancy looked at Warren, she saw the future son she hoped for. She and Warren had a very good year that year.

When God looks at us and sees His son in us, there is favor. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.. . . I have told you this so that my Joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (John 15:11). Peter affirms God’s favor toward His people: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession. (1Peter2:9)

For the time he was in Nancy’s class, Warren was her “special possession.” She confessed that at least some of the children probably thought that he was her son and she never denied it. The children took for granted that he would be favored.

The Bible is full of “chosen” ones who were “favored”. When Saul is told about a young son of Jesse who can play the lyre and who is both brave and a warrior, he is also told , “And the Lord is with him” (1Samuel 16:18), clearly a sign of “favor” before David has even met Saul or heard of Goliath.

Since we are all made in God’s image, it’s safe to say that in a funny way, we are all red-headed believers who are loved and favored by a red-headed God.

Love in Him,

Prue