“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” – Isaiah 41:13
Our lives are full of obstacles that block us from achieving our goals. We spend time, energy and money to overcome life’s hurdles. We have hopes and dreams for our future, but we often find that we are struggling to climb the challenging hill before us.
Wanda Smith knows what it is like to have a dream, but also to have obstacles and life’s demands before her. Wanda’s dream was to become a teacher. She loved children and wanted to spend her days helping them to become the best they could possibly be. Wanda was a mother of three children, who also had a big responsibility of caring for her mother, who had a long-term illness. Wanda never let go of her dream, but spent her time taking care of her family. With her limited time, Wanda would work at the local elementary school, in Brenham, TX. She would work as a bus monitor and eventually as a custodian in the building.
At the age of 37, Wanda returned to college to pursue her dream. She began attending night classes. Her husband would work during the day, and he would care for the extended family at night, so she could work on her dream. It would take Wanda nine years, but she graduated and is now a certified teacher, teaching first grade in the building where she once was the custodian.
Wanda’s dedication to the school, her students, and her story of perseverance is an inspiration to all who know her. Recently, the people of her community came together to celebrate Wanda’s hard work and commitment to teaching. The Mayor of Brenham declared May 4, 2021, as “Wanda Smith Day.” He encouraged everyone to look to Wanda’s example and follow her personal motto, “Be the best you can be.” To honor Wanda, a scholarship was established in her name. Now others who have obstacles to overcome will have help.
Each of us have demands on our lives that make it difficult to achieve our dreams. Some of the hills before us are made by our own decisions, while others are there by no fault of our own. We can overcome! We can move beyond the challenges with hard work, perseverance and the grace of God. What are your dreams? What passion has God given you? Keep working to make that dream a reality. It may take significant effort and time, but it is worth it. The hill before us is nothing compared to the joy of seeing our hope becoming a reality.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
