THE YEAR WAS 1965,
or so I think…

Back in fifth grade Mister Otto was probably one of the most adored fifth grade teachers of all. To my dislike, I didn’t have him. (I won’t tell you about the teacher I had…) He was young, handsome, confident, and you will soon see, funny.

So here I am, a shy girl of nine or so, not having the young, handsome, confident, funny – and extremely loveable Mr. Otto as my very own teacher. (This man was worthy of a childhood crush – even a teenage one!) One memorable day the girls were lined up on one side of the steps going up to the next floor, the boys on the other as was the custom. My friend Gigi (Giselle, a very pretty name!) and I were having a disagreement. Gigi and I were home friends too. She lived up several streets from me and we played together. I remember her to this day. But at school this particular day she and I were not in sync…  We were arguing: “It’s spitted.” That was my stand. But no, Gigi said, “No, it’s spat!”  I was always pretty good at English and I totally believed in my little schoolgirl mind, I was right. Gigi was wrong. Just about that time the illustrious Mr. Otto walked between we girls and boys as he started his ascent to the next floor the rest of us would soon be moving to.

Gigi (a bold little thing) saw him and immediately called out (and I will never forget it!): “Mr. Otto, is it spat or spitted?” Without missing a beat this cool guy replied: “I don’t care, just as long as you don’t do it on my floor!”  I don’t think there was one kid who didn’t burst into laughter! Very, very appropriate! And fun! Friends, this was one time I thoroughly enjoyed being involved in a group activity with the attention on Gigi, Mr. Otto and me!

Selah.

This was so fun! So precious! And it was even more darling because the man, himself was! I have no doubt he was snickering inside, but he was too cool to show it!
God bless Mr. Otto (and Gigi for being so very bold)! And God bless each and every teacher who truly loves the children they help to become smarter so they may have a better lifestyle, vocation, career, homelife.

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS JOY STORY:

Exodus 18:13-23
The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.  Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.  Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.  But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.  Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.  If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Proverbs 9:9
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Proverbs 22:6
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Colossians 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.