Schooled by the "School of Life"

Yes, school is back in session again, even earlier this year . . . with an earlier start time for the 2nd and 5th grade girls. They have to get on a bus at 7:18 each school morning down at the next corner of our street; elementary school starts this year at 7:40 a.m.! The "young man" enters middle school as a 7th grader this year and is within walking distance of school. He gets to "sleep in" and doesn't have to depart until 7:40 a.m. for his 8 a.m. start. Today, Michael said "Goodbye" to his youngest sister, and then chuckled, remarking, "Imagine that, Dad, I'm saying goodbye to her in the mornings now."

A reminder that our children, from their earliest years, are indeed artisans of "watercolour ponies" — in Wayne Watson's words —

"There are watercolour ponies
On my refrigerator door
And the shape of something I don't really recognize,
Brushed with careful little fingers
And put proudly on display—
A reminded to us all of how time flies."

"Seems an endless mound of laundry
And a stairway laced with toys
Gives a blow by blow reminder of the war
That we fight for their well-being
For their greater understanding
To impart a holy reverence for the Lord."

"And the vision can get so narrow
As you view through your tiny world
And little victories can go by
With no applause
But in the greater evaluation
As they fly from your nest of love
May they mount up with wings
As eagles for His cause."

". . . what will we do
When it comes back to me and you?
They look a little less
Like little boys every day
Oh, the pleasure of watching
The children growing
Is mixed with a bitter cup
Of knowing the watercolour ponies
Will one day ride away."

How inadequate we can feel as parents to think how fast the years slip past, wondering how God could possibly use "me" to impact my children for their good and for His glory. Apart from reminding them who they are, and Whose they are, my more "earthly" annual advice to the kids as they go off to school is: "Work hard; play hard; don't mix the two." Hopefully we, who have been taught by the "school of Life," and by the Life-Giver, will be willing, enabled and led to serve our children well in these formative years . . . before they mount their "ponies" and "ride away."

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?"

2 Cor. 2:14-16 (ESV)