OPINION: Today, I am thankful, still… thankful

By Jannie B. Johnson

JA Guest Writer

I’m thankful; I have much for which to be thankful. But…, in this season, I want to express thankfulness for gifts I overlooked and took for granted. For a long time, I was unhappy because the MS laws denied me a piece of my public education the first 12 years of my schooling. But, the MS laws did NOT and could not deny me of that village piece of education I received.

For this, I am thankful!

While in MS, I didn’t realize how deficient my public education was until I went to St. Louis, MO to attend Harris Teachers College. My piece of education was no match for the kind of facts and figures on the entrance exam. Nevertheless, by the grace of God, I was allowed to enter college but on probation.

I am still amazed.

My college experience was a tough struggle from start to finish. It kept me up late at night and up early every morning. I look back now and wonder how I made it with so many odds against me. My academic piece was down. I was a long ways from my home in MS, (519 miles), and this college had just desegregated that year. I was afraid, yes, so afraid in this different environment. But, regardless of the challenges, I knew I could NOT flunk out. I could NOT let my family and village down. I had to graduate and I did graduate with my class.

I say, Thank You, Lord!

I didn’t realize the value of the village piece of my education. I think that it was the village piece that kept me encouraged and kept me going. The villagers did their best for me and with me. They gave me what they had to give and did what they were allowed to do and then they told me to go ahead, you can make it. They taught me how to pray and how to believe God for the possible and the impossible. 

Today, I am thankful! 

Before I left the house, I knew I was a girl by biological design not by the choice of my mind. I knew the difference in the behavior of a single girl and that of a married girl. Boyfriends were boyfriends and not husbands. Therefore, as a single, I was not to do that which makes babies. I still believe.

Before I left the village, I knew that if I wanted to be trusted, first, I needed to be trustworthy. I was NOT to get and gain by means of stealing, cheating, and lying. I was to give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. I learned how to cook, wash, iron, sew, type, and when to close my mouth and listen. I learned by precepts and example how to ignore racial slurs, to be offended by nothing said, avoid and shun bullying and fighting. Don’t allow myself to feel uncomfortable by other folks’ choice of words or odd behavior/lifestyle. And, I was told to remember and practice the Golden Rule: Do unto others as I would have them to do unto me. I remember.

My daddy, Herb Dr. Seth Ballard’s signature statement was “Do right and go straight.”

Today, the academic and technological pieces are up and available in public schools. However, the village piece, the people part is down. For different reasons, of course, public education is hindered by written and unwritten laws. So I ask, are today’s boys and girls being ill prepared, too? Are they under taught, miss taught, or not taught how to get along with self and others? Do they know where to go and to whom to turn when they feel a need to pray or a desire to give thanks? Life can be a long hard struggle for our precious children if they don’t know how to forgive, forget, and be considerate and responsible.     

I’m thankful, still… thankful for the gifts I received from my village.