Isaac and Ned: The Bully?

By Melody S. Scott

Isaac was doing his best to ignore the school bully, as the guy was being his usual self. Then he heard God say, "Help him". Isaac hesitated, thinking, "say what." Then he heard it again, "Help him". Isaac knew that when God spoke it was best to listen and obey. It didn't matter if he thought God was crazy, or that his friends thought he was nuts, or if he was afraid of getting pounded into the ground, or how hard a task it might be. So he vowed he would, with the Lord's help, do his best to help Ned. And he prayed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685179694

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Isaac and Ned

The Bully?

Melody S. Scott

ISBN 978-1-68517-968-7 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68517-969-4 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Melody S. Scott

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 1

The day started like any other. Get dressed, eat, and go to school.

Isaac greeted everyone with a smile and chatted with many.

Ned liked to pick on and aggravate people—knocking their books to the ground, kicking backpacks, or spilling drinks, whatever got him his kicks.

Most people would just ignore Ned. If they didn’t, he would do more than spill their drink.

Isaac always tried to be nice to Ned, just like everyone else. But Ned wanted none of it.

That morning, Ned seemed worse than normal: pushing people, punching them in the arm or chest.

Isaac knew that Ned would get in trouble again, so he decided to step in and try to calm him down.

Ned, buddy, what’s going on? Isaac asked. You might want to chill a little so you don’t get sent to the office.

Ned didn’t like to be called out, not by anyone, especially the kid who was friends with everyone. So he said, Back off, dude. Save your buddy, buddy stuff for someone else. I’m not buying it. And I don’t need you or anyone else telling me how to act or what I can or can’t do.

Isaac wasn’t backing off. The Lord had told him to help Ned and not give up, no matter what.

Ned, I’m not trying to tell you what to do, Isaac told him. I’m just trying to get you to calm down so you don’t get in trouble again.

What’s it to you, dude? Why do you care what happens to me? I don’t! Ned responded.

Ned’s I don’t touched something in Isaac’s heart. How could anyone not care what happened to themselves?

Wow, man, that sucks, he said. Everyone should care about themselves and others.

Okay, Mr. My Life Is Perfect, and everybody likes me, Ned replied, then asked, Why should I care about anyone or anything? ’Cause no one cares about me, and I mean no one.

God cares about us all, man—you, me, everybody, Isaac told him. That’s why He sent His Son Jesus to die for us. God cares and wants all of us to live with Him and Jesus in Heaven.

The bell rang for school and Ned took off. He had managed not to go to the office.

Isaac vowed that their conversation wasn’t over and that he would make time to speak to Ned again.

*****

Lunch was almost the exact repeat of before school: people hanging out, talking, and Ned picking and pushing.

Isaac tried again. Ned, what’s up? Did you think about what I was saying this morning? About God caring?

This only seemed to make Ned angrier. You still yacking at me? he asked. If God cares so much, why does my life suck so bad, huh? Answer me that, will you?

Isaac thought for a second, seeking the Spirit’s help with the right words, then said, Ned, God does care, and He does love us, but He doesn’t promise life will be easy all the time or anytime for that matter. He does, however, promise that if we trust in Him and in His Son, He will give us the strength we need to get through tough times here on earth and that the next life with them in Heaven will be wonderful.

So, Isaac, you’re saying if I get down on my knees and start praying to God, all my problems will just go away? Ned replied. It’s as easy as that?

No, sir, that is not what I’m saying at all, Isaac replied. I’m saying that if you truly believe in God and accept His Son, Jesus, as your Savior, He will send the Holy Spirit to live in your heart. And He will give you the strength to deal with and work through your problems. But no, He will not just snap His fingers and poof, all your problems will disappear.

Ned responded, Whatever, dude. You don’t know me or my problems. I don’t need or want your pity. Just back off and leave me alone.

You’re right, Ned. I don’t know your problems. But you don’t know mine either, Isaac told him. You think my life is perfect because I’m always smiling and seem happy all the time, right?

You, Mr. Perfect, have problems? Ned replied. Yeah, right. Mr. Happy, Easygoing, Everyone Is His Friend has problems? Get over yourself, dude.

Ned, everyone has problems, Isaac responded. Some have worse problems than others, but we all have problems. It’s how we handle them and how we let them affect us that counts.

What kind of problems could you, Mr. Perfect, have? Ned asked. Your car or house not nice enough? You don’t have the newest phone or whatever? Really, Isaac, what problems do you have?

Before Isaac could say anything else, the bell rang, and Ned took off again.

Isaac felt he was getting somewhere with Ned, but it would have to wait. Talk about a lesson in patience and perseverance.

Isaac knew Ned rode the bus home after school, so he prayed that God would work in Ned’s heart. Tomorrow would be a new day.

*****

Unfortunately, the next morning, when Ned got to school, he seemed unchanged. So Isaac tried again.

Good morning, Ned. How’s it going this morning? Isaac said. Did you think about anything we talked about yesterday?

Well, Isaac, it’s the same today as it was yesterday and the day before that. And no, I didn’t, Ned replied. Do us both a favor and just leave me alone.

Listen, Ned, I’m not trying to make you mad. I just want to finish our conversation, Isaac said. "You called me Mr. Perfect and asked me what kind of problems I could possibly have. Well, let me tell you. My mom has a lot of health issues. Sometimes she can hardly get out of bed. And I myself have juvenile diabetes, so I have to be really careful about what I eat and drink.

"Only my closest friends know this stuff, Ned, because I don’t go around whining about it all the time.

"We all get dealt some bad cards sometimes, Ned. It’s how we react that counts. We can get angry and bitter or depressed, or we can choose to live through it."

The bell rang. Ned stood for a minute looking at Isaac, puzzled, then turned and walked away without saying a word.

Isaac prayed that God would let his words sink into Ned’s heart and mind as the day went by.

Isaac didn’t see Ned at lunch and found out that he had gotten lunch detention for pushing a kid in class that morning. Tomorrow would not come soon enough, or so Isaac hoped.

Isaac continued to pray for Ned even though he really didn’t know what was going on in Ned’s life, in his home, or with his family. Isaac prayed that God would work in whatever was happening and bring Ned through it safely, as he had heard through some of his friends that there were rumors that Ned’s stepdad was abusive.

*****

Isaac had a doctor’s appointment Monday morning, so he got to school late and was in a somber mood, as the news from the doctor wasn’t all that good. His diabetes was advancing, and the doctor said Isaac would probably have to start taking medication to help control it.

Isaac did not want to have to stick himself with a needle every day, no way, no how, but he knew life doesn’t always go the way you want it to.

He tried to get himself in a better mood as he walked into school. No sense in bringing his friends down too.

When he walked into class, his friends could tell by looking at him that he didn’t get a good report from the doctor, but they said nothing. They knew he’d share the details when he was ready.

Lunchtime came and Isaac was telling his friends what the doctor said, when here comes Ned, being his normal self. With the dark cloud that hung around him, Isaac decided today wasn’t a good day to try and talk with him again.

Isaac had heard that a couple of teachers had also tried to speak with Ned about Jesus but hadn’t gotten anywhere with him either.

Isaac would continue to pray for Ned and would also pray for his mom and stepdad.

Being a follower of Christ isn’t exactly easy, but Isaac understood that that’s what faith is: doing what’s sometimes hard and trusting God to do with it what He wills.

Chapter 2

Between prayer, reading his Bible, and talking with his parents and friends, Isaac was in a better mood on Tuesday. He still wasn’t happy about what the doctor said, but moping around wasn’t going to change anything.

He was waiting for Ned at school that morning, and when he showed, it was as if nothing had changed. But Isaac approached him anyway.

Morning, Ned. Glad to see you back. Missed you last week. Hope you’re feeling better, Isaac said sincerely.

Great. I thought you were done with me when you didn’t come around bothering me yesterday, Ned said sarcastically.

Well, I’m sorry about that, Isaac said. I went to the doctor yesterday and didn’t get good news, so I wasn’t in a good place. But I’m better today and would really like to continue our conversation about Jesus.

Wait! Ned said. Let me get this straight. You get bad news from the doc and you still believe in all that religious mumbo jumbo? Doesn’t sound like this Jesus character is doing you any favors. I know He sure isn’t doing me any.

It doesn’t work that way, man, Isaac told him. Jesus, God, isn’t a vending machine where you put in a prayer and get out what you want. It’s not necessarily about Him taking away what ails you or hurts you. It’s about trusting Him to give you the strength and patience to get through it, whatever it is. It’s having faith to believe that with Him by your side, you’ll come out better on the other side. And the other side may be here on earth or it may be in Heaven. Only God knows which.

Ned asked, What good is it, Isaac, to trust this unseen person if He isn’t going to give you what you need, when you need it?

The bell rang and Ned took off, shaking his head.

As Isaac walked to class, he prayed, Lord God, open Ned’s heart to my words, but especially, Lord, open his heart to You so that he can hear You through me. Give me guidance, Lord, and patience with him and with all those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lunch came and went with no sign of Ned, so Isaac feared the worst. He asked some of his friends to pray for Ned as he was. Some agreed and a couple said they thought Ned was a lost cause, so why bother? Isaac reminded them that they were all lost causes until they accepted Christ and only God knew who would and wouldn’t accept His Son. It was their job to speak with and teach people about Jesus and to gently guide them toward Him. It was up to them to plant the seed and then it was up to God to make it take root and grow.

Isaac’s mom had always told him, Isaac, we never know who, or when, God will put someone in our path that He intends for us to help or reach out to. But it is up to us to heed His promptings and follow His lead. If you try to ignore Him or go your own way, He’ll just stay at you until you do what He wants you to do.

Isaac had watched his mother reach out and help many people through the years even though she had her own pain and problems to deal with. She was a good example of following Jesus no matter what. It also showed that being a follower of Christ doesn’t mean you will have a life free of problems or pain.

*****

Wednesday dawned bright and beautiful though Ned didn’t really care. As far as he was concerned, all his days, and nights for that matter, were dark and gloomy. His stepdad, Gary, was always in a bad mood and his mom was always walking on eggshells because of it.

It hadn’t always been this way. When his mom first met and started dating Gary, he was