THE BOY WITH NO NAME

A TRUE STORY

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

The small young boy readied himself for the first day of school. He had several years of school under his belt, but he always felt apprehensive about the first day. New friends, new teachers, new schoolbooks and that dreaded creature called homework all loomed before him.

 

His dad dropped him off at large stucco school building. He walked into the large ominous structure and found his new classroom. He searched the desks and found the one assigned to him. Other children came into the room and sat down. The bell rang and the teacher got up from her desk, and walked to the front of the class. The teacher introduced herself and began an explanation of what would be expected of the students. She explained the rules of the classroom and what they would need to accomplish this year. She also shared that there were many things on the wall that would help them in their studies. The students gazed around at the walls and noticed multiplication tables, conversion charts and pictures. It seemed there wasn’t even a square inch that was not covered by some helpful information. She explained that these items would reinforce the facts and information they would learn through the year.  

 

One child raised her hand and asked what the purpose of the letters arranged in the form of a crossword puzzle was. The teacher explained that she had arranged each of their names in a crossword puzzle style interlocking their names together to show how they were dependent on one another for the year. The young boy looked up at the interlocking horizontal and vertical names. He searched for his own. His first scan of the jumble of letters could not locate anything resembling his name. He repeated his search. He still could not find his name. A third time he scanned for the familiar letters that represented the name his dad and mother called him at home. Still he could not find his name, his identity.

 

The young boy was confused. Had he done something wrong so soon to have his name prevented form appearing on the wall? Maybe he had to earn the privilege of having his name on the wall? Possibly he had failed to do something last year which stopped his name from being hung on the wall, interlocked with the other children’s names? Should he say something? Should he ask the teacher what he should do to get his name on the wall? Maybe he should remain quiet, work hard and then his name would be placed on the wall? He chose to strive to work hard in class and trust the judgment of the teacher.

 

The young boy went to school, day after day, and applied himself to his studies. While he failed to get A’s on tests and homework assignments, he did the best he could. B’s and C’s appeared on his report card for his efforts. He wondered if only A’s would get him a place on the wall with the others student’s names. No name appeared. He must work harder.

 

Halloween came and the boy gazed up at the wall and his name had still not appeared. Possibly this was a trick, no treats for him? 

 

Thanksgiving came and still no name was observed in the crossword puzzle of his classmates’ names. It would have been great to thank the teacher during this season of thanksgiving for placing his name on the wall.

 

Christmas came and he wondered if he would receive his name on the wall for a Christmas present. No name appeared.

 

The first of the year came and still no name.

 

Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day came and went, but still no name.

 

He wondered what was it he had done that prevented his name from being written with the others. Possibly he wasn’t working hard enough? He was at a loss for an answer to the problem, the mystery.

 

It was now April and his birthday was a few days away, possibly the teacher was waiting for his birthday to allow his name to be placed on the wall. His birthday came, but no name appeared. What to do?

 

May rolled around; time for open house as the end of school came. The young boy was anxious for his parents to visit and see all the work he had accomplished through the year. His name was still not on the wall, but what mattered most was that he knew his parents loved him and he knew that he had done the best he could this year.

 

His parents were proud of his work. They walked around the classroom finding all the different projects he had completed through the year. Reports, math tests, maps, spelling quizzes were located with his name on them where he had placed it himself.

 

The parents approached the crossword puzzle of names of students in the class. Before they could finish their search of names for their son’s the teacher approached with a strange look on her face. She told Jeff Farrar, our son, that she had to ask for his forgiveness. She had somehow forgotten to put his name on the wall when putting the puzzle together before school started. She was horribly sorry and felt very, very bad that she had been so forgetful. Jeff forgave her, relieved that the mystery was solved.

 

Did you know that as a Child of God, your name will never be forgotten? As a believer, a follower of Christ, an adopted child in the family of God, God will always care for you. He will never forget who you are. He will never abandon you. He is always faithful to look out for us and love us. 

 

Luke 12:6‑7 gives us a clue as to how much detail God knows about each of us when it says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

 

God knows more about you than anyone. He knows more about you than your own mother, your doctor or your wife or husband. He knows things about you, you don’t even know. He knows even the things you attempt to hide from Him.

 

God grants us the right and privilege of being his children. It speaks of this in John 1:12‑13, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God ‑‑ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 

 

I John 3:1 adds to this when it says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

 

 How wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us so deeply. People may let us down, organizations may fail us, governments may abuse us, but God will always care for His children. What a gift our salvation is. To be called children of God. What an honor.

 

 Why not share this great gift with a friend. God desires everyone to come to Him, to call Him Father. People need to know that God knows their name.

 

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

 

2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”