#LifeStory [ 8 ] But it got personal when somebody stole my watch. On November 14, 2002, I was helping a student in my woodworking class when my watch became a nuisance, so I took it off, and laid it in front of the computer monitor where I was working. Seconds later, the bell rang, ending 7th period, so I had to go into the other classroom to start the next class. I totally forgot about the watch until late that evening when I cleaned out my pockets before going to bed. The watch had been given to me for my birthday by Glenda Russell, my mother-in-law, the month before. I remembered where I left it, and was determined to look for the watch in the morning, first thing, before my Friday classes started.
The next morning, as soon as I arrived at school, I looked for the watch, but it wasn't there. Now I was angry. I talked to the assistant principal, who told me that based on what he recently learned at an Admin Conference, I would never get my watch back. So, for the rest of the day I told my students that if they heard what happened to my watch to please let me know.
But the more I thought about it, the madder I got over the weekend. I knew it was probably one of four students in my 8th block class who could have taken my watch. When school started on Monday, November 18, I was determined to make that class do book work until my watch reappeared. Those students had taken my watch and I was demanding it be returned or nobody could work in the shop. So, the 8th block students did book work both Monday and Wednesday that week.
On Thursday evening, while reading my Bible, I read this verse: Luke 6:30, “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” This verse was like a slap across my face! These students had taken my watch, and here I was demanding they give it back. At that moment, I got down on my knees, and I prayed, “Lord, you know who has taken my watch. You know how much that watch means to me as a gift from my mother-in-law. I'm sorry for being selfish and demanding back what has been taken from me. Lord, please work in the heart of the person who took my watch; help them to see that what they have done is wrong and give them a repentant heart. Help me to trust in You.”
The next day was Friday, a week after my watch had been stolen, and I allowed my 8th block class to work in the shop again. From that day on, I continued to pray and ask God to work in the heart of the person who had stolen my watch. I trusted God, knowing that He knew everything and was in control of all things.
On Wednesday, November 27, as I was giving a demonstration on how to use a machine, one of the secretaries from the office came into the shop and handed me a white envelope, which they had found behind one of the computers in the office. On the outside of the envelope, my name was written in big letters with a crayon, but on the inside I found my watch! The Lord is faithful to those who trust in Him!
The next morning, as soon as I arrived at school, I looked for the watch, but it wasn't there. Now I was angry. I talked to the assistant principal, who told me that based on what he recently learned at an Admin Conference, I would never get my watch back. So, for the rest of the day I told my students that if they heard what happened to my watch to please let me know.
But the more I thought about it, the madder I got over the weekend. I knew it was probably one of four students in my 8th block class who could have taken my watch. When school started on Monday, November 18, I was determined to make that class do book work until my watch reappeared. Those students had taken my watch and I was demanding it be returned or nobody could work in the shop. So, the 8th block students did book work both Monday and Wednesday that week.
On Thursday evening, while reading my Bible, I read this verse: Luke 6:30, “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” This verse was like a slap across my face! These students had taken my watch, and here I was demanding they give it back. At that moment, I got down on my knees, and I prayed, “Lord, you know who has taken my watch. You know how much that watch means to me as a gift from my mother-in-law. I'm sorry for being selfish and demanding back what has been taken from me. Lord, please work in the heart of the person who took my watch; help them to see that what they have done is wrong and give them a repentant heart. Help me to trust in You.”
The next day was Friday, a week after my watch had been stolen, and I allowed my 8th block class to work in the shop again. From that day on, I continued to pray and ask God to work in the heart of the person who had stolen my watch. I trusted God, knowing that He knew everything and was in control of all things.
On Wednesday, November 27, as I was giving a demonstration on how to use a machine, one of the secretaries from the office came into the shop and handed me a white envelope, which they had found behind one of the computers in the office. On the outside of the envelope, my name was written in big letters with a crayon, but on the inside I found my watch! The Lord is faithful to those who trust in Him!