The phrase used to be, “Bless your heart.” For more serious cases this expression has been upgraded to, “God love her.” You can start out pitiful but God is good all the time! Irritants can be a great gift. Many outstanding feats have been accomplished when adversity is present. Academically, I struggled. I was placed in the “C” section which is not to be confused with a procedure to have a baby. There was an “A” section for the Einstines, a “B” section for the normal children and the “C” section for those who need prayer, medication and supplication. In the Sixth Grade, I was carrying a stack of paper to the office for my teacher and she said, “Jane, don’t look at those papers. It is your IQ.” I thought to myself, “Lady, you are stupid.” Then I looked at my IQ and realized that I was the stupid one. During my high school years, I struggled. When it was time to take the PSAT, I made the lowest score in the class. I was told that scores increase considerably when you take the SAT. Well, that did not happen. I even took classes to make a higher score on the math section and I actually made a lower score. I decided to take the SAT for a second time, the ACT, DUMB…..whatever. In the meantime, I began teaching Dyslexic children every Saturday and after school. The head of the program fired me and told me she thought I was Dyslexic. After sitting on some rocks at Folly Beach and “boo-hooing,” having a great pity-party the thought occurred to me. No one can tell you who you are and no one knows what is inside of you except our Heavenly Father. With faith, prayer and determination, I would prove the experts wrong. I decide to go to college. I met with my high school adviser and after reviewing my transcript and College Entrance Exam scores, she asked if I have any pull. All I could think of is that Daddy had a brand new John Deere tractor. All of the colleges and universities I was interested in were not interested in me. I received a letter from Columbia College, a small Methodist College I had applied to for admission. They were not accepting me but wanted me to come to an interview. That was good enough!I drove to Columbia, South Carolina on a mission to become a Columbia College girl. I had to talk the Admissions Counselor in to giving me a chance. I kept saying over and over, “Just give me a chance, I will make you proud.” I wore that man down. It worked. When I returned to Johns Island, I ran in the tomato field and yelled, “Daddy, I got in!” Another hurdle was that my daddy could not afford my college tuition but God blessed me with a Grant and Daddy with cucumber rebate money. That August, I entered Columbia College as a freshman on academic probation but four years later I walked across the stage with a diploma in hand. I was also voted the college’s highest honors by my peers. I was even on the Dean List. God did a work in my life many years ago with the class Diva and academic challenges. But He does not stop there. God is a God of possibilities and life lessons. I can testify that irritants and adversity can become your best friend.
