Читать книгу Inspirational Short Stories - Donald Ray "Butch" Smith - Страница 8

chapter 3

JOHN BLUFF AND TED

John Bluff was meaner and bigger than all the other kids at his school. He would bully kids around by taking their food, money, books, and anything else he wanted. He told them that if they would tell anyone on him that he would beat them up.

Every day he would take ten dollars from Ted. Ted’s parents could not understand why he was spending so much money every day for a kid who was in the sixth grade.

It was on a Friday when big bad John Bluff grabbed Ted by his shirt collar and lifted him off the ground and told Ted he wanted him to bring a hundred-dollar bill to him for that Monday. Ted became so afraid that he wet in his pants. Ted was so nervous that he was shaking. Ted knew that his parents couldn’t afford to give him that kind of money. When he got home from school that same day, Ted went to his room and locked the door behind him. Ted stayed in his room crying and being afraid for the rest of that Friday and all day Saturday. Ted’s parents came to the door knocking and asking him to come out of his room. Finally, he opened the door and told them that he needed one hundred dollars to take to school for money for certain kinds of books. His parents told him that they didn’t have that kind of money. Ted went back into his room, locking the door behind him, as he was filled with more fear. Ted’s parents became disheartened as they didn’t have an answer.

When Ted and his parents were asked by a church member to come the following Sunday, they all agreed to attend because they had never been. During Sunday’s service, the preacher had been preaching about when David slew the giant Goliath. The Spirit of the Lord had come upon Ted as he grew courage from the message. Ted and his parents came to the altar as they all gave their life to Jesus.

That following Monday, when Ted came back to school, the very first person that he saw was John Bluff. John walked up to Ted and asked him in a rough tone, “Do you have my money?”

Ted, giving up seventy pounds of body weight and four inches in height difference, boldly said, “No.”

John quickly grabbed Ted, lifting him off the ground. “What is your problem that you don’t have my money?” He asked in anger.

Ted boldly said, “I don’t plan on giving it to you. So put me down at this very moment.”

“Little boy, who are you to stand up against the meanest and toughest boy in all the school? I can crush every bone in your body.”

“John, I let it be known to you that the God that I serve will deliver me. Just as he delivered David to slay Goliath, he will deliver me. He is the God that delivered David out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear. So put me down because you are hurting me.”

“No, I will not!” he said in anger.

Ted quickly reached out, slamming both hands against each side of John’s ears. John went down to the ground in pain. Never again did John mess with Ted or any of the other kids.