August 30th

Everyone has a favorite teacher. I would be hard put to it to name just one from my school days, because there were so many wonderful ones. I do, however, remember Anna K. Brace as one of the best. Everyone groaned when assigned to one of her mathematics classes in High School, for she was considered to be tough. I had her for Solid Geometry, Advanced Algebra, and Trigonometry, and I enjoyed her classes in spite of her reputation. She was brilliant. She put herself through college math. courses without taking the lectures, just using the assigned books! She passed the exams with flying colors. In her day, that sort of thing could be done. That lady could write two separate problems on the blackboard at the same time, using both hands equally well!

She knew how to teach too. Her explanations of the principles involved were clear and succinct. She knew how to break the monotony or tension with her sense of humor, but she brooked no laziness or disobedience at all. She knew her students. When Jerome was absent for several days in the late spring, she mentioned the fact that the bees must be swarming at his father’s place! She understood his absence as a family priority just then, and then made arrangements for him to catch up on what he had missed. None of us even knew his father kept bees.

THE TEACHER
Gently guiding,
Sometimes chiding,
Overriding willful ways,
Thoughts inspiring,
Effort desiring,
And requiring best always,
Soul-depths reaching,
Prayer beseeching…
Spirit…teaching us God’s praise.

The Holy Spirit is a wonderful teacher too. He can be tough. He has infinite knowledge and wisdom. He knows how to teach us the lessons of life. He knows us too, even better than we know ourselves. He understands our lapses, forgives us, and sets us on the right track again. He doesn’t like slothfulness or disobedience any more than Mrs. Brace did. We need to work at His lessons and heed them.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for the teaching of the Holy Spirit in my life. Keep me on my toes, Lord, to learn more of Christ as He teaches me.