Many times, I would come home bewildered and what hurt even more was when I saw my mom and dad who both had black hair, and but they did not have “freckles.” That was very puzzling to me, but I would sit in my little room surrounded by my dolls and stuff toys and wonder if may be I was adopted. I never questioned my parents about this, until my third year in school after I came home crying from the many fights that I had been in. Fighting had become a part of my school life, which I hated with a passion. I later learned to understand the reason why I did not like school. It was because of instead of concentrating on my school work, I spent my time looking for excuses and attacking everyone who verbal attacked me or called me a name.

This went on for sometimes until, I started to fake the “stomach ache or head ache, which I know would keep me from going to school.

My mother is a very wise woman who soon discovered that as soon as the school bus would go by my stomach ache or the head ache would disappear. She finally sat me down one day and asked me why I did not want to go school. I admitted to her that I hated school and that the children were very cruel to me and that they were constantly calling me names and picking on me. It was then that I asked her If I had been adopted and she smiled and said “that I had inherited the freckles and the red hair from my great grandmother and my aunt Ruby. Even though, I felt a little better after she talked to me, it was still hard in school until I reached the seventh grade. There I met a teacher by the name of Mrs. Irene Carr who taught me more than just the typical reading, writing and arithmetic, but how to believe in myself even when the odds seemed against me.

Mrs. Carr, would not allow me to use words like: “I can’t, I won’t I don’t, but rather.. I can do it. I will do it and I am able to do it. If my home work was not completed, Mrs. Carr encouraged me to keep doing it until I go it right and then she would reward us when we needed to be rewarded. She was the best teacher I ever had in the elementary grades and I think that maybe one of reasons that I became a teacher. Mrs. Carr refused let us call each other names and she made all the children in her class feel very special and successful in their school work.

During my seventh grade year in school, my grades improved tremendously and I began to think about college and what I wanted to do in life.

Even though there were still some times during my high school and even college years that I would feel a little inferior or lack self esteem, I would quickly remember Mrs. Carr’s words; “You are somebody and you can do anything if you put your mind to it.” My mother was also there encouraging me and praying for me and with me.

My dad is a very quiet man who loved me very much for he thought that I could also be the boy that he wanted. Therefore, I was a tomboy for many years, I drove the tractor, worked in the tobacco field and I was a constant companion to dad on the farm.

Even though, we did not have a lot of value things, I felt my mom’s and dad’s love in everything that we did together. I remember the wonderful trips to the beach and Washington, DC and other places. They usually took me with them where ever they went.

My dad taught me to drive around the age of 12 and I enjoyed hanging out with him every chance I got.

During my freshman year in high school, we built a house and moved from north of Rose Hill to south of Rose Hill. I was thrilled and so very excited when we moved into our house.

That was the year that I first fell in love with the boy who I just knew would one day be my husband. Even though, I thought he was the one, God had other plans for me. I really enjoyed my high school years. I made many friends and received many awards and achievements. I was ready for college and I worked hard to make sure that my grades would not hinder me from realizing my dream. Then road blocks came my way, I found out that my dad and mom could not afford to send me to college because with house payments, electric bills, car payments and others, college did not seem possible. When I visited my guidance counselor, she informed of the”Student Loan Program”. That was truly a blessing to me. We had to have my tuition until the loan monies became available, but with friends and family’s help I was able to go the college.

It was during my freshman year in college that I fully understood that God has a purpose for every believer and that If we allow Him, He will help us in our time of need.

I also understand that God has angels and He will give them charge to watch over you..Psalm 91. For it when I was at one of lowest time in college that an angel came to my rescue.

Many wonderful things have happened in my life and as others I have had my share of ups and downs, but I can truly say that I understand more clearly now why God gave me my freckles. For every freckle that I have on my face, it just another blessing. Each time I look in the mirror and I see the many freckles, I am reminded that each freckle represents a blessing. Just as I can not count the freckles on my face, I can not count the blessings that God has given to me in my life.

Every day I thank God for my family, my friends, my health and my wealth, but most of all I thank God for my freckles for they are a constant reminder, that my God loves me and He made me wonderfully and marvelously above the rest.

Freckles..as blessings, are too many to count!!!