Those were words I said often as a child. I had a terrible self-concept. But that all changed when I was in 7th grade. I had the toughest social studies teacher—Mr. McKenzie. Struggling the first few weeks, he pulled me aside and said he believed in me. He said he had yet to get a person wrong. He said he had a trick to getting his long and difficult homework assignments done and a way to help me memorize. It wasn’t a trick. It was just hard work and putting in the time. I used his suggestions. Not only did I get the homework done with A’s, I learned the Gettysburg Address. Parents, don’t show our kids the answers, show them HOW to do the work. That lesson lasts a lifetime

Suggested Reading: Proverbs 13:4, Philippians 4:13, Colossian 3:23