Of my four siblings, only my oldest sister had bright red hair. It was her “crowning glory”, and noticed by everyone. Nancy grew up to become an elementary school teacher; and one day when she was teaching second grade, the principal walked into her room accompanied by a red-haired boy and carrying the boy’s file folder. He told Nancy that Warren would be in her class, an handed her the folder. Nancy glanced inside it and noted that Warren had been moved from two different second grade classrooms because of “personality conflicts” with the teachers. Nancy’s was the only second grade class left that he had not attended. She pushed a student desk forward so that it was adjacent to her desk and told Warren that it would be his desk, and thus began his third try at second grade.

Nancy delighted in Warren. She kept him close to her in school activities and discovered that when he wasn’t bored he was bright and actually eager to excel. She called on him frequently to run errands, and openly favored him. She laughingly told me that she was quite sure that at least some of the other students believed that Warren was her own son.

When Warren’s mother came for her first parent conference a month later, Nancy showed her his work, which was well done. “Yes,” said his mother, “but how is he really doing in class?” Nancy paused, then looking at this mother, she boldly answered, “How do you think a red haired boy would do in my class?” There were tears in the mother’s eyes when she left her son’s classroom. For no reason of his own, Warren had received favor. Nancy later told me that Warren liked being favored, and he never gave her any trouble at all.

The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you. . .( Deuteronomy 7:7-8) St. Peter wrote to Christians: You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession . . . Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2: 9-10)

Nancy eventually mothered four boys, including twins. None of them had red hair. Warren had a very good second grade year, and was successful in third grade, even with- out a red haired teacher.

You and I can wake up every morning knowing that the favor lasts, and the love is real.

Love in Him,

Prue