Ms. Neese was my fourth-grade teacher. She fit the typical image of a teacher in the early 1960’s. She always wore a scowl, wore her hair in a bun, wore dark dresses that came well below her knees. Ms. Neese wore something extra, a large black onyx ring on her right middle finger. The ring was not just a piece of jewelry, but it was for a far more ominous purpose. It was for thumping me in the head when I misbehaved. Sometimes she thumped even before I misbehaved. She seemed to know what was in my mind. Very few of the boys escaped a good thumping on occasion. Never did she ever thump a girl. If she was around today, she definitely could not be a teacher.
At times when faced with a temptation, a thump on the head happens. It’s not Ms. Neese but the Holy Spirit thumping to keep me from giving in to the temptation. Part of my prayer is for the Holy Spirit to keep thumping so sin can be avoided! However, I do not believe the Spirit wears an onyx ring.
We all need some thumping in our lives from time to time!
Thanks!
Mike This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.