I SURVIVED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!

In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

What are you thankful for?  I am thankful for how God helped me to survive elementary school.  It all started in kindergarten: I was the first kid in Mrs. Stefan’s class to need eyeglasses.  First grade found me absent 9 days with chicken pox, mumps or measles.  My teacher, Mrs. Maley gave me a satisfactory in handwriting, listening and seat work. Second grade, Mrs. Hollinger praised me for my interest in reading but said mid-year my main problem was listening. In third grade Mrs. Blackburn gave me my first O (outstanding) in spelling.  My academics advanced in fourth grade, but my social skills diminished under Mrs. Demmy (nicknamed “Demon”).  She was a short, fiery redhead armed with three fearsome paddles: Heat the Seat, the Board of Education and the Stimulating Stimulator.  I wasn’t a rebellious child, but throwing snowballs, teasingly taking a girl’s sweater, and goofing off in art class resulted in my rear feeling the wrath of Mrs. Demmy. There’s no room to tell you what happened to my most valuable possession, my glasses in 4th and again in 6th grades!  Fifth grade teacher Mrs. Schrawder said I needed to do neater work, avoid haste and careless mistakes.  Sixth grade was with Mrs. Hetrich and Mr. Herr who had laser-beam eyes, an icy stare and asked me in math class, “Kulp, are you half-asleep or half Oriental?” I then fractured my left wrist resulting in poor penmanship. 

December of sixth grade my life changed drastically for the better as I personally trusted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I turned from all my elementary sins, trusting Jesus alone to forgive me (John 1:12-13; 3:3; 3:16).  I’ve never been the same since.  I thank the Lord for His work in my life even if I still have trouble listening at times or doing neat work.   What do you thank the Lord for today?

Bob Kulp