A Special Sunday School Teacher

My mother's  mental illness probably contributed to my longing to look up to older, Godly women. Several women "mothered" me during my adolescence.   One of those was a special lady whom I never knew more than a few months.  

I will never forget my Sunday School teacher – Mrs. Bale Hill.  She was the wife of a wealthy rancher, but she loved the Bible and she loved kids.  She taught the Old Testament out of the old Gospel Advocate Quarterlies.  They were poorly written and boring, but I learned a lot of the Old Testament stories out of them.   What I remember most is Mrs. Hill’s kindness.  She knew my mother suffered from mental illness, so she paid special attention to me, and I lapped it up like a thirsty dog laps water. 

All too soon she moved away, however and I never saw her again until I was in my late thirties.   One day I opened up the one of our periodicals and read that she and her husband had just made a large donation to a Christian College.  They were living in Tulia, Texas.   Shortly thereafter I was invited to interview at Tulia and I got to see her again. She asked, “Did you live in Clyde when you were growing up?”  

I said, “I surely did and you were my Sunday School teacher.”   In truth I remember her kindness far more than I remember anything she taught me.  It testifies to the power of service and example.