A “D Minus” Circumstance
Bart Simpson from the episode, “Bart Get’s An F” from the Fox series, “The Simpsons” (c) Fox Television, 2013
“The Simpsons” episode, “Bart Get’s An F,” is the most memorable and relatable for me.
In this episode, Bart Simpson faces the possibility of being held back a grade if he doesn’t pull his grades up. Once he uses up all his resources, from cheating to just getting a tutor, he resorts to prayer. He prays for something to delay school the next day. A snow storm rolls in and delays school and he attempts to study, but fails to actually concentrate. He takes the test and fails it, but when the teacher sees that he actually retained something from the test, the teacher changes the test to at least a D minus. Bart passes
As Homer, Bart’s father, hangs his test on the fridge door, Bart tells his dad at the end that, “part of this D minus belongs to God.”
When I first saw this episode, it aired during a time that I was facing similar troubles which actually caused me to sympathize with Bart. To an extent, of course!
Facing the threat of either being held back a grade or sent to Summer school, my parents arranged for one of my cousins to tutor me in math. To add to that, I was already in special education math courses. But everything that could possibly be done was being done in order to keep me from failing the state standardized test, specifically the math portion.
I was frustrated, angry, panicked and really stressed out about it! Its not that I wanted to fail, I just could never get or understand math for one reason or another.
After I prayed and asked God to help me with the test, I got a somewhat interesting prayer answer as well. Instead of being held back, I was sent to Summer school for half of the summer. I was officially able to transition to the 7th grade.
That was my “D Minus.”
I remember I was still quite disappointed about the fact that half of my summer would be spent inside the very place I desperately wanted to stay away from. But, at the same time, I was grateful.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says the following:
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I think this is the point that God was making with me. I don’t think he was looking for me to experience a Bart Simpson type of faith experience, but to be able to give thanks in the circumstance.
The end result doesn’t always come to an A plus or a B minus! Just be thankful for the D minus experience.
You want to strive for higher than that, don’t get me wrong! But, I was grateful that day. I was able to genuinely give thanks in that circumstance.
It prepared me to give thanks in other future challenges and circumstances.
Posted on October 7, 2013, in Devotion and tagged 1 Thessalonians 5:18, adult, animated, animation, author, bart get's an F, bart simpson, Bible, biblical, blog, blogger, blogging, boys, cartoon, cartoons, cheating, children, Christ, Christian, christianity, classes, Comic, courses, devotion, fail, failure, faith, focus, fox, girls, God, held back, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you, Jesus, kids, math, men, mini-sermon, pass, programming, published, publisher, remedial, repeat, school, sermon, special ed, the simpsons, tutoring, underachiever, women, Word, writer, Writing. Bookmark the permalink. 13 Comments.
I remember those days–and the frustration of not being able to firmly grasp a subject even though you worked so hard. Math was the only subject that gave me this issue… not to mention Physics, as a result of that weakness. Still, it was a valuable experience. It was probably the only subject that required tremendous effort on my part. Being in that kind of situation was definitely a valuable life experience.
Oh definitely! Truly!
Couldn’t have agreed more! Definitely made me and those of us who went through something like this stronger.
They say it so true! I’m with you:)
Indeed! 🙂
I think all of us had a D- moment. It’s so good that at that age you resorted to prayer. God loved you then and He loves you know and he was right there to help and teach you a life lesson. That reminded me of Romans 8:28:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” GOD BLESS YOU! 🙂
Thanks So much for your kind words as well as for the reminder of Romans 8:28. I actually wrote this text to a friend the same day! God Bless You!
The secret is to be your own competition, to strive for self improvement and not trying to comply or meet the expectations society places on us. It’s probably the most important lesson parents can teach their kids, in my humble opinion. And then off course how to pray.
Indeed!!! Thank You so much!!!
You are very wise.
Me, nah! I’m just grateful to be used by the Lord and share 🙂 Thank you SO much.
Thanks for visiting my blog especially since it brought me to yours! 🙂
That is one of the greatest Simpsons episode ever! It was that episode that changed my mind to allow my kids to watch The Simpsons. Not only was it spiritually positive but it was also hilarious! I find it often happens that you get something you don’t want but ends up being a blessing in disguise. I took a class in summer school too and found it was much easier to retain what I was learning when you are being taught more information with no breaks in-between. God knows what is best for us.
I totally agree. It was definitely one of the most classic of the episodes. It really hit home with me from when I was a kid. Thanks so much for your kind words!