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In Mrs. Reed's third grade...

Illustration
Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Exodus 17:1-7
In Mrs. Reed's third grade class, being first in line was the goal of every child. There was always a mad dash to the door accompanied by lots of pushing and quarreling when the students were asked to line-up. Mrs. Reed decided that she'd had enough of this activity, so she made a new rule. The next time she asked the students to line-up, she told them the new rule: "The first shall be last and the last, first!" Then she ordered everyone to stay in his or her place, but to turn around and face the other way. When they did that, she went to the new front of the line and led them to lunch.
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