WISDOM for this WEEK

Wisdom for this Week

Back to School

Diane and I have just had 6 of our 7 grandchildren in our home for almost 24 hours.[1] We had such a wonderful time.[2] This is all Diane’s idea; a “Back to School Blast” of sorts. She does a wonderful job getting the kids all kinds of “stuff” for going back to school; all the right food for them to eat[3], etc. Diane believes this one – day – a – year tradition is as good as 40 days of LENT.[4] Me? I say, “Ok, dear, whatever.”

In the deepest part of my being there’s a part of me that trembles as this time of the year approaches. NOT because they are coming to our home. It’s because they are going to school. I wish each of them could have gracious, Christian teachers like the ones who attend North (Barb Martin, Geoff Martin – who subs - , Denise Maslanka, and Ron Eshleman – who is retired.). I wish each of them would be surrounded by kind, well-mannered, even genuine Christian peers. But, alas (big gulp), I know they wont.

I recall “letting go” of Michael & Brian as they began each school year. At first, they were too small to “let go” and walk into that BIG school and classroom. My heart was heavy and happy for them at the same time. I had to turn way quickly so they wouldn’t see my flushed face and tearing eyes. I had to walk fast down the hall, across the school yard and parking lot to the car so no one would have a chance to talk to me or I’d embarrass myself with my crying. In the car, I would have to give myself a few minutes to breathe deeply, wipe my eyes, blow my nose, and regain my composure. The intriguing thing about this behavior of mine is that it was repeated every year even into their college days.[5]

And now, I fight this feeling 6 times over[6] as I look at each child and see the look on their faces as they enter school and see and hear stuff that innocent eyes and ears have not heard before. And a little bit of their out-look and living in the ‘real world’ begins to get a jaded. Not because they necessarily begin acting and talking like their peers but just because they have to wade into the junk of the world and try to make sense of it all.

I know their parents ache, too. I know they work hard to “train each child in the way he or she should go.” I know they must “let go” a bit more each school year whether they want to or not.

Still, I am hopeful that each grandchild will “remember who you are”[7] and never let go of the things that matter most: faith, family, freedom (to be who God created them to be whether their peers or anyone else understand, follow Jesus, feed on the right stuff morally, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, relationally, culturally, and forsake all the other junk.

“Children are an heritage from the Lord,” the Bible tells me in Psalm 127.3a. Those 7 words are enough to remind every parent and grandparent of how precious each child and grandchildis and how all of us should do our very best to protect that heritage at all cost.

Until next time,

Pastor Jimmy

[1]Our Doctor’s said we shouldn’t go much over a day with all of them at once as we will need vitamin B-12 shots and IV’s of Trazedon – for sleep.

[2]We locked them in the basement with the bugs, spiders, snails, and one small snake I call: “Sneaky.”

[3]It seems each child has certain likes and dislikes and NO “here’s what we have, so eat it or starve” mentality will not do! I’m not sure why but some things are better left alone!”

[4]Or however long LENT last

[5]Don’t believe me? Just ask Michael or Brian.

[6]Oh my, it will be 7 times over when Meghan starts school.

[7]Famous words of wisdom spoken by me to Michael & Brian each time I took them to school as they started to get out of the car.

Pastor Jimmy

F.R.O.G.