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Bob Barstow and friends

Love never fails

St. Paul shares a partnership with the two schools in our neighborhood: Madison Elementary and J.B. Young Intermediate.

In the sun-drenched library of Madison Elementary School, a block’s walk from St. Paul, Bob Barstow reads a book to two small friends. He has the rapt attention of Shamari and Ki. The story on the book’s pages is interesting, certainly. But there’s something else that captivates these two.

It’s love.

“We wouldn’t survive without love,” reflects Bob Barstow, drawing on a lifetime grounded in God’s Word. “Faith, hope, love. The greatest of these is love. It overcomes all things.”

For Bob, love translates into a passion for helping young people. “I find youth so wonderful. They’re innocent. They have this excitement about life. Everything is new to them. They have love to give and they want to be loved. They need to be shown they can succeed.”

For over 40 years, Bob has shared love with young people — as a Sunday-morning teacher and now, in his retirement, as a literacy tutor at Madison. It all started with a bargain Bob made with God when he was 21. (A maturing faith makes Bob more inclined to relate with God through prayer these days, rather than deal-making.)

So Bob made this bargain. At 17, he had graduated from high school, gotten married, and been baptized and confirmed. All in the same year. Some days, all he and Dee had to put on the table were Beefaroni or Spaghettios out of a can. Three children came their way.

“Life was difficult,” remembers Bob. “I said to God, ‘If you’ll help me, I will teach youth how important you are in life and what a difference you make.’ God helped me and helped me. And I’ve tried to keep my end of the bargain.”

Bob learned to serve. “I really believe this is how God has changed my life. I’m not that outgoing. If it was up to me, I’d sit in a back pew and be quiet.” But over time, Bob’s shyness receded and his courage to teach kids grew. He received the good news from God: “My grace is sufficient for you, Bob.”

Bob learned to give. “We had three kids and we were struggling to make ends meet.” And during this Spaghettios chapter in Barstow family life, someone suggested that they try tithing. The challenge seemed preposterous: Giving away 10% of their income for the sake of others. “I tried it, and it’s absolutely true. We still paid our bills. We didn’t have any less to live on. The blessings would come. I’m a firm believer that as you give, God gives back — pressed down and overflowing.”

Then Bob set down 51 years in the printing business. “When I retired, I said, ‘Okay God, I’ve trusted you all my life. You have blessed my endeavors. I’ve been so busy. What am I going to do now? Retirement is scary.’”

Each morning, Bob has lively conversations with God. He counts on prayer. “God has shown me — I don’t care what kind of situation I’m in — that God is with me. God has given me this passion for helping youth.” And then the doors to Madison School opened up, and Bob packed up his love and walked in.

Love never fails. “Love is powerful,” says Bob. “Love overcomes all things — differences of opinion and questions of acceptance, when people wonder, ‘Am I valuable?’” No matter the challenge, the Barstow family stakes their life together on love. “We don’t say goodbye without saying we love each other. And hugs. If you see me, I’m always going to give a hug.”

With love abundant, Bob reads with children at Madison School. Bob’s weekly presence as a tutor is a message of love to each child he encounters.

Love: It never fails.

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"Anybody can observe the Sabbath, but making it holy surely takes the rest of the week." ~Alice Walker, author