A Lofty Goal for a Little Girl

Why She Wanted to Learn to Read

Angie, my sister, began first grade at five years of age. Kindergarten classes were not offered at that time in the Ralston district. I had been teaching her letter recognition and formation as well as number recognition and formation since she was around two years old. My teaching aspiration kicked into high gear when a discarded school desk appeared along with a beat-up, large broken piece of blackboard that either Grandpa or Dad affixed to the east wall of the garage. Those junked items provided the impetus I needed to begin instructing Angie in earnest. Angie never balked at our little classes. Even at a young age, she had the capability to focus quite intently and master any skills I presented to her.

 Angie's perky anticipation to learn is evidenced in her first grade school photograph. Mother styled her long blonde hair in a bun, sprayed with hairspray, hoping to guarantee that not a hair would be out of place until after her picture was snapped. She wore a Gladys Rainey Smith custom-made dress. Grandma always tweaked the pattern. Our clothes never looked exactly like the illustration on the front of the pattern envelope. Subliminally, Grandma taught us to chart our own course in life just by the way she designed our homemade clothes.
             Angie arrived at first grade eager to become a fluent reader. Her primary motivation was to be able to read the Bible passage for our daily family Bible and prayer time that we had each evening in our home. At the time, the King James Version of the Bible was the one we were reading from each night. The reading level of this version of the Scriptures was determined to be at the least on eighth grade level. In some experts’ opinions, the readability of the KJV could be as high as twelfth grade. Suffice it to say, Angie had a lofty goal as an emergent reader!

Before her first grade year had ended, we had some evenings when a big Bible was spread across her lap as she read the planned passage for the night. She mastered phonics in her first-grade class. Angie flawlessly applied her “sounding out” skills to unfamiliar words she encountered. Using her strong, God-given voice, Angie conveyed the Word of God to our family. (Even with Dad's severe hearing impairment and stroke complications, he could articulate anything Angie said.)

As we embark on the new year of 2017, much talk surrounds resolutions, goals, lifestyle changes, and personal improvement. Choices to better ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually can be traced to a scriptural origin. Paul wrote to the believers in I Corinthians 6:19-20: Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

Gladys Rainey Smith's Bible 
Probably the Bible from which Angie wanted to read.

Since Jesus redeemed us with the price of His life that we could never pay, our gratitude for the grace and forgiveness should motivate us to keep the “temple” in optimal condition in line with His guidelines. Our bodies belong to Him. The Holy Spirit resides within anyone who belongs to Christ. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. (Romans 8:9). So, our desire to have healthier bodies should stem from our desire to please Him.  This short, but powerful prayer should be on our lips – God, I want to honor You with my physical stamina, healthiness, emotional endurance, and mental stability. That can come about “not by might, not by power, but by Your spirit.” May You be praised by my life this year.

The Bible belonging to my grandfather, Calvin
Callcayah Smith. What a Biblical student Grandpa
was - even though he only got to attend school
through the fourth grade!

Finally, Angie’s determination to be the family reader of the Bible reveals possibly one of the greatest resolutions or goals that one could have for the new year. When we read God’s Word, we are enabling ourselves to hear the very words of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. No goal could be loftier. Hearing what He has for us even supersedes our need to pray. In no way do I diminish prayer, but me hearing from Him is more important than Him hearing me. May our resolve to read His scripture rank at the top of our list of goals. Whether reading from a scripture app on your phone or using a print copy of His word, let’s read the Bible and put what we read into practice in 2017.