Grace
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The boy stood with back arched, head cocked back and hands clenched [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]defiantly. "Go ahead, give it to me." The principal looked down at the young [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]rebel. "How many times have you been here?"[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The child sneered rebelliously, "Apparently not enough." The principal [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]gave the boy a strange look. "And you have been punished each time have you [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]not?" "Yeah, I been punished, if that's what you want to call it." He threw out [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]his small chest, "Go ahead I can take whatever you dish out. I always have."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"And no thought of your punishment enters your head the next time you [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]decide to break the rules does it?" "Nope, I do whatever I want to do. Ain't [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]nothin you people gonna do to stop me either."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The principal looked over at the teacher who stood nearby. "What did he do this [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]time?" "Fighting. He took little Tommy and shoved his face into the sandbox."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The principal turned to look at the boy, "Why? What did little Tommy do to you?"[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"Nothin, I didn't like the way he was lookin at me, just like I don't like the way [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]your lookin at me! And if I thought I could do it, I'd shove your face into [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]something."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The teacher stiffened and started to rise but a quick look from the principal [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]stopped him. He contemplated the child for a moment and then quietly said, [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"Today my young student, is the day you learn about grace."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"Grace? Isn't that what you old people do before you sit down to eat? I don't [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]need none of your stinkin grace."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"Oh but you do." The principal studied [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]the young man's face and whispered. "Oh yes, you truly do..."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The boy continued to glare as the principal continued, "Grace, in its short [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]definition is unmerited favor. You can not earn it, it is a gift and is always [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]freely given. It means that you will not be getting what you so richly deserve."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The boy looked puzzled. "Your not gonna whup me? You just gonna let me walk?" [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The principal looked down at the unyielding child. "Yes, I am going to let [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]you walk."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The boy studied the face of the principal, "No punishment at all? Even though I [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]socked Tommy and shoved his face into the sandbox?"[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"Oh, there has to be punishment. What you did was wrong and there are always [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]consequences to our actions. There will be punishment. Grace is not an excuse [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]for doing wrong."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"I knew it," Sneered the boy as he held out his hands. "Let's get on with it." The [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]principal nodded toward the teacher. "Bring me the belt."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The teacher presented the belt to the principal. He carefully folded it in two [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]and then handed it back to the teacher.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]He looked at the child and said. "I want [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]you to count the blows." He slid out from behind his desk and walked over to [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]stand directly in front of the young man.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]He gently reached out and folded the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]child's outstretched, expectant hands together and then turned to face the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]teacher with his own hands outstretched. One quiet word came forth [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]from his mouth. "Begin."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The belt whipped down on the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]outstretched hands of the principal. Crack![/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The young man jumped ten feet in the air. Shock registered across his face, [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"One" he whispered. Crack! "Two." His voice raised an octave. Crack! "Three..." [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]He couldn't believe this. Crack! "Four." Big tears welled up in the eyes of the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]rebel.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"OK stop! That's enough. Stop!"[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]Crack! Came the belt down on the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]callused hands of the principal. Crack! The child flinched with each blow, tears [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]beginning to stream down his face.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]Crack! Crack! "No please", the former rebel begged, "Stop, I did it, I'm the one [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]who deserves it. Stop! Please. Stop..." Still the blows came, Crack! Crack! One [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]after another.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]Finally it was over. The principal stood with sweat glistening across his [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]forehead and beads trickling down his face. Slowly he knelt down. He studied [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]the young man for a second and then his swollen hands reached out to cradle the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]face of the weeping child. "Grace..."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]Author Unknown[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The boy stood with back arched, head cocked back and hands clenched [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]defiantly. "Go ahead, give it to me." The principal looked down at the young [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]rebel. "How many times have you been here?"[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The child sneered rebelliously, "Apparently not enough." The principal [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]gave the boy a strange look. "And you have been punished each time have you [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]not?" "Yeah, I been punished, if that's what you want to call it." He threw out [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]his small chest, "Go ahead I can take whatever you dish out. I always have."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"And no thought of your punishment enters your head the next time you [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]decide to break the rules does it?" "Nope, I do whatever I want to do. Ain't [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]nothin you people gonna do to stop me either."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The principal looked over at the teacher who stood nearby. "What did he do this [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]time?" "Fighting. He took little Tommy and shoved his face into the sandbox."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The principal turned to look at the boy, "Why? What did little Tommy do to you?"[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"Nothin, I didn't like the way he was lookin at me, just like I don't like the way [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]your lookin at me! And if I thought I could do it, I'd shove your face into [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]something."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The teacher stiffened and started to rise but a quick look from the principal [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]stopped him. He contemplated the child for a moment and then quietly said, [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"Today my young student, is the day you learn about grace."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"Grace? Isn't that what you old people do before you sit down to eat? I don't [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]need none of your stinkin grace."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"Oh but you do." The principal studied [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]the young man's face and whispered. "Oh yes, you truly do..."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The boy continued to glare as the principal continued, "Grace, in its short [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]definition is unmerited favor. You can not earn it, it is a gift and is always [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]freely given. It means that you will not be getting what you so richly deserve."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The boy looked puzzled. "Your not gonna whup me? You just gonna let me walk?" [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The principal looked down at the unyielding child. "Yes, I am going to let [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]you walk."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The boy studied the face of the principal, "No punishment at all? Even though I [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]socked Tommy and shoved his face into the sandbox?"[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"Oh, there has to be punishment. What you did was wrong and there are always [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]consequences to our actions. There will be punishment. Grace is not an excuse [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]for doing wrong."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"I knew it," Sneered the boy as he held out his hands. "Let's get on with it." The [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]principal nodded toward the teacher. "Bring me the belt."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The teacher presented the belt to the principal. He carefully folded it in two [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]and then handed it back to the teacher.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]He looked at the child and said. "I want [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]you to count the blows." He slid out from behind his desk and walked over to [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]stand directly in front of the young man.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]He gently reached out and folded the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]child's outstretched, expectant hands together and then turned to face the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]teacher with his own hands outstretched. One quiet word came forth [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]from his mouth. "Begin."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The belt whipped down on the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]outstretched hands of the principal. Crack![/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]The young man jumped ten feet in the air. Shock registered across his face, [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"One" he whispered. Crack! "Two." His voice raised an octave. Crack! "Three..." [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]He couldn't believe this. Crack! "Four." Big tears welled up in the eyes of the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]rebel.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]"OK stop! That's enough. Stop!"[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]Crack! Came the belt down on the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]callused hands of the principal. Crack! The child flinched with each blow, tears [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]beginning to stream down his face.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]Crack! Crack! "No please", the former rebel begged, "Stop, I did it, I'm the one [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]who deserves it. Stop! Please. Stop..." Still the blows came, Crack! Crack! One [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]after another.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]Finally it was over. The principal stood with sweat glistening across his [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]forehead and beads trickling down his face. Slowly he knelt down. He studied [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]the young man for a second and then his swollen hands reached out to cradle the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]face of the weeping child. "Grace..."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva, sans serif]Author Unknown[/FONT]
