05.31.15
Psalm 119.136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because
people do not keep your law.
Today, is the last day of May and I am glad. Not that May
is over, but that June starts very soon. I’ve had to rethink some things and
tomorrow is the day for a shift in procedure, protocol, and preference. Which brings
me to security blankets.
I think I had a security blanket when I was a toddler. I
know my siblings had them because I saw them and how they acted with them. I
never saw myself though my siblings may testify that in-fact, yours truly had
his blankey. My children had their versions of blankeys, favorite stuffed
animals or, with one in particular, binkie’s. It’s all a part of growing up. My
grandson has Silky, a little blanket that someone gave him, and he has
Bear-Bear, his take a nap and go to bed toy.
There is a time and a place for these things in our lives
and in the lives of our littles. There is also a time to put them away.
(Although – really – what a world this would be if we all grabbed our blankies
for a nap every day.) So, today I am putting away a security blanket: my daily
reading of the Psalms and Proverbs. For
the last five months reading Psalms and Proverbs exclusively is the only way I’ve
been able to make my way through each day. They don’t call them Wisdom
Literature for nothing. Which brings me to graduation ceremonies.
I attended a high-school graduation ceremony for five
young men who’ve been home-schooled all of their lives. Yes there were lots of
tears. Yes there were lots of hugs. And yes, there were lots of, I Love You’s,
and, I’m Proud of You’s. There was thanksgiving for mom, dad and siblings. And
yes, there were diplomas. But there was one common and major focus throughout
the 2-hour event: that of the presence and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Home-schooling is a different creature and those who do
it have a different bent than those who don’t. Not every family who
home-schools believes in Jesus; but they all believe in teaching their kids at
home and seeking above all to see to it that their children get a high-quality
and robust education. The goal isn’t a paycheck – it’s a legacy.
So, the ceremony for all of its lack of pomp and circumstance,
was full of family, fun, faith, and future. And five young men were launched
from childhood to manhood. I was impressed, blessed, and proud to see the way
these families have operated in the lives of these young men for the last 18
years.
One of the fathers closed the ceremony with a reading of
chosen passages of Scripture for his son. I found myself with my eyes closed
and my hand raised in honor of the language of the Kingdom and of the saved. And
I realized in those moments of hearing a proud poppa read God’s word to his
son, that I needed to put away my security blanket of only one portion of the Bible, and return to my yearly trek
through the entirety of God’s word in hope that I, a sixty year-old, can
continue to make a contribution in this world by allowing all of the word – the good, the bad, and the ugly – to lead me, guide me, teach me, and rebuke me as
I live the rest of my days for the honor and glory of the One who has called me
into fellowship with Himself. Yes, I look forward to tomorrow.
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