Teachable moments in life

BrendaBy Brenda Cannon Henley
Some things in life are few and far between, and when they come along, we would be wise to take advantage of them. I fear looking around my own environment that way too many young couples, and older ones alike, simply live too fast. There is little time to actually teach, inspire, motivate, and help others. Making a good living, participating in school activities for the children, taking an active role in our community, attending church, and being a good daughter or son, perhaps caring for elderly relatives, an occasional trip or two, and poof, another year has sped by leaving us mired in duty and responsibility. How many teachable moments did we lose? What about the number of instances where we could have imparted wisdom, sage advice, or at least encouragement? Perhaps our paths crossed with another individual, and we really did not know why, until we realized that the other person was looking for something in the way of help, direction, or suggestion.

The Bible has much to say about teaching and many of the 49 verses I found this morning had to do with training and teaching children. I also read 13 other verses directed to the person of the teacher. Many years ago in the Atlanta area, I studied, created, and presented classroom instruction for various ages of students under the watchful eye of my Child Evangelism Fellowship mentor before I could be credentialed as a trainer of other teachers for this wonderful organization. I so wanted to do well and I studied and I worked hard at gathering illustrations and visual aids to bring those Bible stories to life. I learned through them that one is not teaching unless someone else is learning and I found that true then and now.

However, I have found that you do not have to be in a classroom situation with you as the teacher to take advantage of teachable moments and a greater surprise is that often the student is not a child. I remember two teachable moments that I have never forgotten or not been grateful for in my own life. Simple, but profound, lessons were learned from each that I use today.

bch_2016-0926As a young bride, I wanted to cook well and have people in our home to eat with us. I labored over choosing menu items, cleaning the house, setting a decorative table, and serving good southern home cooking. A precious family in our church and my own family often traveled together and shared meals in each other’s homes. One year we were in a beautiful condo on a sunny, sandy, white beach in Florida and it was Ann’s turn to cook breakfast. She fried the bacon and was making gravy when she turned from the range with tears in her eyes, and said, “Oh, no, I have ruined the gravy it has gotten way too thick. We cannot eat this mess,” she grieved. Just as she started to pour it into the disposal, Bill, her husband, and the owner of a car dealership, stopped her, and said, “No, don’t throw that away. You go set the table and let me work on this.”

Ann left and began placing dishes and silverware. Bill turned on the tap water and let it run until it was very hot and then put about a cup full into the mottled gravy. He began to whisk it vigorously. Lo and behold, we had perfect gravy again. He lovingly told Ann that you always add water or milk to thin gravy and more flour to thicken it. I was amazed. I did not know this either. I’ve used this trick for over 50 years and everyone thinks I serve delicious gravy. That was a teachable moment for several.

Another adult teachable moment I remember vividly, I learned from my employer and the founder of The Sword of the Lord, Dr. John R. Rice. I was the conference coordinator and traveled all over America and into some foreign countries handling the details for these large gatherings. We were working a meeting at Cobo Hall in Detroit at a time the area was not known for being very nice to visitors. We needed the number of seats the hall offered. By the time we got out of the convention center each night, it was toward two in the morning. All the massive book tables had to be cleared, restocked, money counted, TV cameras put away, and seats made ready for the next session. We were all hungry for good food and everything was closed. One of the police officers protecting us knew a wonderful family down in the old Greek town of Detroit. He called and the owner and his happy family agreed to stay open and serve us. It was fabulous. We ate there five nights in a row.

One evening the owner came over to our table and offered us choices from a delicious appetizer tray that he had prepared for our group. As he started to serve Dr. Ron English some big, beautiful black olives, Ron shook his head, and said, “No, I don’t eat those. I don’t like them.” After the owner left, and just our employees were at the table, Dr. Rice looked over his glasses and said, “Brother Ron, the next time you don’t want something that someone graciously offers you, it is best to simply say, “No, thank you.” He added that there was no need to say why. “For some people, they are extending kindness offering you what is a delicacy to them. It is rude to say, ‘Oh, I don’t eat that rubbish,’” Dr. Rice added. I learned a big lesson, which I taught my children. Just say, “No thank you.”

Think of teachable moments you have shared with others and let’s be alert for the opportunities to do more of this teaching as we go along life’s path.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788, or
[email protected].

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