Grammar school “bully” with the big heart

I received my first legitimate birthday wish the night before my birthday at 7 pm – legitimate meaning, it was a wish on my actual birthday. We were connected by the telephone, but the caller was standing in Australia, on the other side of the International Date Line, wishing me a happy birthday on what was for her, the afternoon of my birthday, when for me, it was only the night before. Yes, I was literally talking to the future.

All that to say how cool it was to receive a call from a Catch reader in Australia who was calling just to wish me a happy birthday and let me know she was sending me a check for our current fundraising drive that would obviously not be here by my birthday. That’s fine. Neither was our promised report on giving progress, which will be coming later today. It’s what Marti calls a “day of mercy” (or birthday); I chose to take it.

Things like this make us aware of how small this “global village” really is. I was speaking to this woman from Australia as if she were next door. And what an encouragement to hear firsthand how much the Catch means to her! She spoke of her $70 gift as being something she was compelled to do. Perhaps someone would like to match her $70 and encourage her as well. There’s still time.

And then there are all the Facebook birthday greetings, some of which I still have to open. My favorite so far was from a classmate of mine from grammar school on whom I haven’t seen since high school. Funny thing, this is the guy I always thought was the class bully. That might have been because he was bigger than the rest of us. But now it appears that the only thing that was really big about him was his heart. Of all the hundreds of kids in my class, he’s the last one I’d expect to hear anything from. Which only goes to show what a poor judge of character we are.

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)