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The Whipping | |
| >There was a school with a class of students that no teacher had been able >to handle. Two or three teachers had been run off from this school in one >year by the unruly students. >A young man, just out of college, heard about the class and applied to the school. >The principal asked the young man, "Do you know what you are asking for? >No one else has been able to handle these students. You are just asking for a terrible beating." >After a few moments of silent prayer, the young man looked at the >principal and said, "Sir, with your consent I accept the challenge. >Just give me a trial basis." >The next morning the young man stood before the class He said to the >class, "Young people, I came here today to conduct school. But I realize >I can't do it by myself. I must have your help." >One big boy, they called Big Tom, n the back of the room whispered to his buddies, "I won't need any help. I can lick that little bird all by myself." >The young teacher told the class that if they were to have school, there >would have to be some rules to go by. But he also added that he would >allow the students to make up the rules and that he would list them on the blackboard. >This was certainly different, the students thought! >One young man suggested "NO STEALING." Another one shouted "BE ON TIME FOR CLASS." >Pretty soon they had 10 rules listed on the board. >The teacher then asked the class what the punishment should be for >breaking these rule! s? "The rules are no good unless they are enforced", he said. >Someone in the class suggested that if the rules were broken, they should >receive 10 licks with a rod across their back with their coat off. >The teacher thought that this a s pretty harsh, so he asked the class if >they would stand by this punishment? The class agreed. >Everything went along pretty good for two or three days. >Then Big Tom came in one day very upset. He declared that someone had stolen his lunch. >After talking with the students, they came to the conclusion that little >Timmy had stolen Big Tom's lunch. Someone had seen little Timmy with Big Tom's lunch! >The teacher called little Timmy up to the front of the classroom. Little Timmy admitted he had taken Big Tom's lunch. >So the teacher asked him, "Do you know the punishment?" >Little Tim! my nodded that he did. >"You must remove your coat," the teacher instructed. The little fellow had come with a great big coat on. Little Timmy said to the teacher,"I am >guilty and I am willing to take my punishment, but please don't make me take off my coat?" >The teacher reminded little Timmy of the rules and punishments and >again told him he must remove his coat and take his punishment like a man. >The little fellow started to unbutton that old coat. As he did so, the >teacher saw he did not have a shirt on under the coat. And even worse, he >saw a frail and bony frame hidden beneath that coat. >The teacher asked little Timmy why he had come to school without a shirt on? >Little Timmy replied, "My daddy's dead and my mother is very poor. I don't >have but one shirt, and my mother is washing it today. I wore my big >brother's coat so that I could keep warm." >That young teacher stood and looked at the frail back with the spine >protruding against the skin, and his ribs sticking out. He wondered how he >could lay a rod on that little back, and without even a shirt on. Still, >he knew he must enforce the punishment or the children would not obey the >rules.So he drew back to strike little Timmy. Just then Big Tom stood up and came down the aisle. >He asked, "Is there anything that says that I can't take little Timmy's whipping for him?" >The teacher thought about it and agreed. With that, Big Tom ripped his >coat off and stooped, and stood over little Timmy at the desk. >Hesitatingly the teacher began to lay the rod on that big back. But for >some strange reason after only five licks that old rod just broke in half. >The young teacher buried his face in his hands and began to sob. He heard >a commotion and looked up to find not even one dry eye in the classroom. >Little Timmy had turned and grabbed Big Tom around the neck a pologizing to >him for stealing his lunch. Little Timmy begged Big Tom to forgive him. >He told Big Tom that he would love him till the day he died for taking >his whipping for him. >Aren't you glad that Jesus took our whipping for us? That He shed His >precious blood on Calvary so that you and I can have eternal life in >Glory with Him. We are unworthy of the price He paid for us, but aren't you glad He loves us that much? >This is a story everyone needs to know So if you know anyone else who may be blessed by this story, please pass it on. >God bless you, and keep you safe. Most people's troubles come from too >much time on their hands - and not enough on their knees.
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