I remember as a child growing up and going from a middle-class household to one in which we were dirt poor. At times there wasn’t gas, electricity or food to eat. I remember the church nuns took me to get my school clothes on one particular year because my mom didn’t have the money for them. Of course there were arrangements made to keep me in the Catholic school. I had to volunteer at the Friday fish fry’s and do any other chores needed. I also remember my 7th grade teacher, Ms. Cantor, keeping me inside during breaks and lunch, stating that she needed my help, but actually it was because I didn’t have a winter coat. Eventually she bought me one and I was able to rejoin the kids during breaks. I never forgot those days.
At the time I saw them as really tough times, and they were. The reality is however, God was preparing me for my future. I carried those experiences through my life, never forgetting and never ashamed. Those experiences shaped who I am today and continue to shape me. As I move into my second phase of life, I want to be that person who helps a kid when life takes an unexpected turn. I want to help save a person from fearful and destructive thoughts. It’s my turn to pay it forward and do what the nuns, the Catholic Church, and Ms. Cantor did for me. I’m grateful for every difficult situation God has brought me through because they’ve made me who I am today, and they’ve ordered my steps. I shall never forget because those times were the stepping stones to my life’s path. I have more life to live and more work to be done.
I shall never forget and therefore shall never stop giving!
Thank you for being transparent. It takes courage and not being ashamed!!
Sandra, you are inspiring me to share more of myself. How freeing it must be😍
God bless you.
Thanks for your comment Dara. Yes, it is very freeing. All glory to God for all that He’s brought me through. Hopefully it can help strengthen someone else.
Sandra,
I’ll never forget and as a teacher who is inching closer and closer to retirement, there are those students I remember who have passed on for various reasons, there are those who talked about how they hated the school, hated me but come back and introduce their children to me after enrolling them. They ask me to not retire until I’ve taught them. I remember all my teachers from 3rd Grade on. I hope they remember me and say, “She cared”. That is what I say when they get angry with me, “sorry, I care”.