Regardless of how many times I explained the concept, some still
misunderstood and made mistakes.
Correctly punctuating compound sentences is one of the
simplest yet most difficult concepts I teach in Language Arts. The rule is
simple: when two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction,
a comma must precede the conjunction. For an independent clause to be claimed
as such, it must have a subject, a verb, and a complete thought—not just a verb
and a few prepositional phrases.
And it was the latter that confused many students. Many of
them placed a comma when the sentence was actually a simple sentence with
compound verbs. Others would mistake the word “then” for a coordinating
conjunction and place a comma. I spilled a lot of red ink correcting papers on
correctly punctuating compound sentences. Although I explained the concept in
every imaginable way, the rule often didn’t sink in. Sadly, their failure to
understand cost them many unnecessary mistakes.
I, too, failed to understand concepts in school, although my
misunderstanding was more in math than in English. But it is more worrisome when
others misunderstand us.
The psalmist was confident God understood him. After all, God
had created him. He knew everything about him, even his innermost thoughts.
Failing to understand a concept and being misunderstood by
others aren’t pleasant. Both can lead to frustration. I’ve taught students who
practically gave up, and I’ve known people who struggled with depression
because others just didn’t “get” them.
Since God made
us, he knows everything about us. He knows what things we struggle with—the
hard subject, the unpleasant work atmosphere, the tough relationship, the
co-dependent friend, the addiction. He doesn’t have to hear us voice our
frustrations because he knows our thoughts. He understands us.
We will always
encounter situations we don’t understand—and probably people who won’t understand
us. Yet we can live with that if our Creator is by our side, guiding us along
life’s journey. He’s the friend who will never leave, who will always comfort,
and who will forever understand.
Take comfort in
knowing God understands you when no one else does.
Father, thank you
for creating me and understanding everything about me.
I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.
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