Sunday, November 10, 2013

Learning to Read for Sunday School

Mike Durr, Jr.
1921 - 2004

We would begin early in the week preparing for Sunday church service; making sure our clothes and shoes were clean. Mama would start Sunday's dinner Saturday night, completing it early Sunday morning. Church included Sunday school and a long Pentecostal church service of praying, singing, hand clapping, shouting, testifying and preaching.

My Uncle Mike Durr, Jr., made me an accomplice preparing him for Sunday School. Uncle Junior never learned to read. He had a great memory for dates and family history. He could add, subtract, divide, and multiply in his head but he just couldn't get that reading thing together even with extra help from dedicated teachers. He didn't hide his illiteracy but used it as a crutch. According to his wisdom, he never married because he could not read.

I lived in the same house with Uncle Junior as a young child and he recognized my love for reading, so, he decided I would "teach" him to read his Sunday School lessons. Before the third grade, I was his teacher and would continue to work with him until I was in high school. Those Hittites, Mobites, Zacchaeus, Zephaniah, etc., would tie a knot in a young reader's tongue. I would read the lesson with my mother before I "taught" Uncle Junior.

He wanted to participate in his Sunday School Class by reading one of the verses from the lesson. We would go through the lesson and he would decide which verse he would read in class. We worked on that verse at least once during the week and again on Saturday night.

On Sunday mornings with bibles and Sunday School books in hand, off to church we went. It was a small church where all classes were in one room. Occasionally, I could hear Uncle Junior telling the teacher which verse he wanted to read and hear him when he read his verse. He would stumble at the same words he stumble with at home, forget the words I thought he knew. His teachers ignored his stumbles and would continue to call on him to read Sunday after Sunday. On many Sundays my student was a star, he would recite his verse near perfect.

The memories of my uncle's struggles and triumphs with his Sunday School lessons will stay with me forever.

This blog post was re-posted from September 12, 2010 for Carnival of African American 5th Edition ~ REBIRTH: It's Time For Revival! Blog about a special memory or Ancestor story related to a spiritual experience of rebirth, reawakening and/or celebration! Hosted by Luckie Daniels of Our Georgia Roots.

When I was a child, my family attended Forest Hill Church of God in Christ in Jackson, Mississippi.

15 comments:

Kristin said...

This is really touching. Your cousin was so lucky he was in your household.

LindaRe said...

Deciding which verse he would read and going over that verse was part of the ritual of getting ready for Sunday morning.

True Lewis said...

I know that did his heart some good. You took time to share and learn, teach. We did some of these same rituals of getting up on sunday morning also.

M. Dawn said...

Wonderful reminder of how faith and family are intertwined.

M. Dawn said...

Wonderful reminder of how faith and family are intertwined.

M. Dawn said...

Wonderful story of how faith and family are intertwined, and of talents shared.

LindaRe said...

Then, you had clothes and shoes just for Sunday and you wanted to be sure they were clean and ready...I was excited to have a student and it is a sweet memory for me.

LindaRe said...

Thank you, M Dawn. I didn't think of it then as sharing a talent, but it was.

Bernita said...

Beautiful story, I could see everyone getting ready. What a wonderful way to learn and to share.

Luckie said...

Very, very sweet Linda! Uncle Junior was a star period for the will & dedication to attempt change. He wanted to contribute to an act that was important to him & you were the bridge allowing that to happen! Sweet memory indeed! Peace & ease Uncle Junior -- your girl's still teaching! You taught her well!:)

LindaRe said...

Thank you, Bernita.

LindaRe said...

"Reading" his verse was very important to Uncle Junior. I was the one to read his mail and fill out important papers for him. Reading and writing are gifts.

Anonymous said...

Kudos to you, because your Uncle Junior trusted you at a early age, to assist him with his Sunday school studies, He felt comfortable and knew that you believed in him. I am glad that you had this special relationship with Uncle Junior.

Bigbee60 said...

Sweet and Touching! What a true blessing u were to your Uncle Junior.So glad u shared.

LindaRe said...

Thank you, Bigbee60