Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

When I took the two into my home, I fell into disfavor withthose Pentecostal preachers who didn’t think I should take themin. Although their intentions had been good, their harshness hadcompounded the boy’s fears. Because I was also a Pentecostalpreacher, I terrified the boy who refused to come to the table atmealtimes. All the while, Mrs. Darkins was under an icy, darkcloud of gloom.“Lord,” I prayed. “Now that I’ve got them, what will I do withthem?”“Do nothing,” He instructed me. “As an icicle will thaw in thewarmth of a kitchen, these people will thaw, not through preachingand not by any special treatment or exorcism. Just let themthaw out with the perfect love which is the grace of God.”For several weeks, I ignored little Stevie. Whenever I would offermy own children and neighbors’ children sweets or fruit, I woulddeliberately leave him out. I never spoke to him but did what theLord said to do with him — nothing. He had arrived as deathinto the midst of life, while our children were lively and friendly,openly displaying their attitude of loving trust. This friendlinessbegan to penetrate little Stevie’s corpse-like demeanor. Then oneday, I saw a flicker of his eyes toward me while I was givingsweets out to the other children.“Do you want one?” I held out the bag of sweets to him, andwithout a word, he snatched one like a frightened animal. Littleby little, his defenses broke down, until finally, he began to joinin and take a banana or sweets with the rest of the children. Ashe began to thaw, his adoptive mother began to thaw too.His eyes big with wonder, Stevie paid rapt attention to the Biblestories I would tell the children. “Uncle Arthur,” he would oftenbeg, “Tell me a story.”I began to use a technique on him to help him overcome hisfears. “Look, Uncle Arthur is very busy. If I tell you a story, you’llhave to remember it. When I ask you what was the story I toldyou yesterday, I want you to promise me you will stand up andrepeat the story to me.”Our meetings were held in such a warm, homey atmosphere,Stevie didn’t realize he was in a meeting. I would say, “Now156