My Teacher, Mrs. Brandt

May 31, 2026
 
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius
You got to be kidding me!  I'm doing all this work, and you are getting credit for it?
 
One day while in high school, Mrs. Brandt, our tough as nails English teacher, gave the class a multiple-choice quiz.  As was his habit, once again Russell, who sat behind me, was copying all my answers.  Somehow, Mrs. Brandt did not catch on as to what he was doing.  So, I decided to take matters into my own hands.  I circled all the wrong answers.  Well of course, Russell finished the quiz at the exact same time that I did.  He handed in his paper and left the room as I sat there waiting for him to leave.  After he left, I changed my incorrect answers, that Russell copied, to what I believed to be the correct answers.  Russell never could figure out why my grade was higher than his. 
 
If you happen to know Russell, don't tell him my secret.  Oh well, since he died several years ago, it really doesn't matter.  Russell may have been a better athlete than I was, but my English grade was higher than his.
 
One day while in Mrs. Brandt's class, some of the guys thought it would be fun to chew tobacco and, while she had her back turned, they would then spit the wad out of the window.  True to her reputation, tough as nails, she knew about their ruse and to their surprise, she shut the windows.  By the time the class was over there were at least three or four of my classmates whose complexion was green as grass.  No!  I did not participate in that shenanigan.  There may be other shenanigans in which I participated, but not that one.
 
Though tough as nails, Mrs. Brandt taught me the importance of the use of proper English, punctuation, and sentence structure.  How would I know way back then that she would be a building block for me today since, as a pastor, I now write daily?  I might get the credit for which I write, but she is one of many to whom I give credit for my writing skill set.  She also taught me not to chew tobacco in a closed room😊
 
By the way, anything I teach on Jesus and salvation, you are free to share with others.  I promise I am only giving you the correct answers.  Jesus saves!
 
Love in Christ!
Pastor Allan
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