Recently, during a belt test for Taekwondo, I observed something very interesting.
A young boy, a level one, 7-8 years old, began crying when his name was called. One of the instructors immediately went over to him to find out why.
"I'm not good enough," he said through tears.
What happened next really struck me. The instructor took him into a back room and about five minutes later they came out together. The boy sat down while his group finished testing their segment, sparring with each other. Next, he was brought in front of all the students and made to spar a black belt! As he did, all his classmates cheered him on. Obviously the black belt, a young man in his teens, was not going all out, but sparring on the young boy's level.
Together, the class restored that little boy's heart and the testing continued as normal.
Do we take that time, to encourage one another's hearts? That is one of the reasons we gather together, to strengthen one another.
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
Next time we gather, pray, and ask the Lord, "whose heart can I help restore?"
