Brad Hall: THE PREACHER'S DAUGHTER: A Pocket Full of Rocks
Apr. 3—I work at an elementary school. My morning duties used to include monitoring the hallway outside of the primary restrooms. You would be amazed at how many meaningful conversations I have had with little people throughout the years.
We've discussed everything from lost teeth to light up sneakers during their morning commutes. I received an unusual gift once, and it struck a chord with me. When I reflect on the significance of something so awkward in nature, honestly, I get somewhat emotional.
There was never a morning that she didn't stop to speak to me. Somedays I had the honor of holding her coat while she went to the restroom. I prompted this practice after I observed her soaking her coat sleeves in the sink one morning. The inner "almost mother" in me cringed when I saw them sopping wet and dripping across the tile floor. Since that unfortunate morning she would remove her jacket and hand it to me before entering the restroom. Other times she would make it a point to show me elements of her wardrobe, ranging from hair-bows to glitter unicorn stickers that she's collected.
By most accounts she was your typical 7-year-old child. She hid a smile behind thick glasses and brown bangs. She even shared lunch with me once, insisting she sit beside of me in the cafeteria. I was happy to welcome the company, and our discussion that day contained new details about her "upcoming marriage." I am certain the future groom is unaware of these developments, but I do know he likes grape capri sun.
She placed a gravel in my hand once.
"That's for you," she said.
"It's a present."
I was speechless.
I wasn't sure how to respond at first, so I got eye level with her and smiled. To my surprise she proceeded to show me that both of her jacket pockets were also filled to brim with rocks. "I have more, in case you lose it," she said.
That morning I was adamant that I hold her jacket prior to her bathroom visit. I then relocated it to her classroom and told her teacher about the "treasure" in her pockets. We both had a good laugh about the randomness of such an act, and I assured my little friend that her rocks were safe, but they had since been placed in a quart-sized ziplock bag until dismissal. It was an interesting morning to say the least.
I kept my rock. It's not very attractive. It's chalky and dirty. It's sharp even in spots. I've thought a lot about the time it must have taken her to collect all of them, and how heavy her pockets must have been from the weight.
Ironically, I started to think about the "rocks" so to speak a lot of us pack around with us daily. At any given time, any of us can be found with rocks in our pockets. Some of them we have in preparation to throw. The spirit of offense is strong and can be debilitating at times. How easy it is to take offense to words, actions, or someone else's "sin" and feel the need to defend our own.
Sometimes the rocks in our pockets are there because we're too stubborn to lay them down even after we've tried to stop throwing them. The intention is there but the effort is not. To fully surrender and die out to old habits, we must be willing to lay things down, and take up something new. The rocks must be removed from our pockets.
Lastly the rocks may be in our pockets because they've been gathered from the ground around us. Maybe they were thrown at us even. Perhaps you took the time to pick them up but felt like they were deserved. Whatever the reason, it's time to empty our pockets. There's no room for rocks of any kind. None of us are without sin, none of us can cast or collect the first stone.
My prayer is regardless how many rocks we've felt like throwing, we've refused to let go of, or we've had thrown towards us, that we leave them be. Be willing to forgive, brave enough to change, and strong enough to withstand. May your pockets be empty, and your hearts be full.
Erinn Williams is originally from Williamsburg, and now resides in Owensboro, Ky. The daughter of a teacher and a preacher, she hopes to make a difference through her words. She serves as an elementary educator in Daviess County, and writes for Owensboro Parent magazine in Western Kentucky. She can be contacted at erinn.williams2017@gmail.com.
