I was in my garage a few nights ago and I saw the brick that came from my old school, Curry Elementary, when it was torn down a few years ago. Curry Elementary sat on a hill overlooking the Birmingham Airport and I was there from kindergarten through the eighth grade. We did not have air conditioning in the school until I was in the seventh grade, so the windows were always open and the planes were very loud. I developed my love for school from Curry Elementary because I had great teachers and I always enjoyed being there. I can still remember all of my teachers from elementary school. They went in this order: Glover, Gilbert, Gibson, Layton, Menefee, Pillard, Byrum, Norton, and Thoroughgood. I can remember certain things about each one. One of the days I will never forget was in Mrs. Layton’s third grade class. Her room was at the end of the building and although she is my all-time favorite teacher, she was also very strict. She especially did not like for the boys to lean backwards on the back two legs of their chairs. My friend, George was always breaking the rule. One day, after Mrs. Layton had told George several times to put his chair down, he was leaning back again. Mrs. Layton walked behind George, pushed his chair backwards, stood over him, and said, “I told you to stop leaning back in your chair”. I bet, to this day, George does not lean back in chairs. If he does, I bet he is looking over his shoulder for Mrs. Layton.
I learned a lot that year but the most important thing I learned did not come from a textbook. Mrs. Layton was always aware of each student’s individual needs. I was always a bashful kid and also had a little bit of a speech problem. Mrs. Layton would not let me be bashful in her class and she never seemed to notice the speech problem or let me use it as an excuse. I remember that she expected a lot from each of her students but I enjoyed each day that I was in her class. Not only did she expect great things from her students, but she also made you feel like you had really accomplished something when you did well. She taught me to expect a lot from people, to expect a lot from myself, and to give my best effort.
I think our Heavenly Father expects the same qualities from us. He wants us to expect great things from ourselves, but to glorify His Son with our accomplishments. He wants us to expect great things from the people in our lives, but to help them know His Son through our love for them. And He expects nothing but our best efforts and promises to reward us.
I prayed today that you will remember someone who made you feel the same way about yourself, and also that there is someone who feels this way about you. Expect people to do great things and flip them backwards when they don’t!
Chad
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