Sacred, Fleeting Season

Suddenly, as I worked on this post, I couldn't stop weeping

for all the precious children of the world!

(How often it is the innocent who suffer

where innocence untaught 

grows up not knowing 

what they know not)

How sacred is the virgin soil

Of childhood's innocence ...

It is no mere coincidence that a child loves to hear about Jesus!

Every child in my childcare has shown me unbridled delight as we pause

before lunch to thank God for our food with this little prayer

God is great, God is good

Let us thank Him for our food

By His hands we all are fed

Thank-you Lord, for daily bread

Amen

From wide-eyed curiosity of a one-year old to eventually joining in,

 their faces beam with pure joy from pure hearts

as we thank God!

(and oh, the glorious conversations this little prayer sparks💗🙏)

On the inside cover of  a vintage version of The Pilgrim's Progress

 is this certificate of acknowledgement to honor the recipient of the reward.

Imagine if we still handed out such noble literature in our public schools

 as rewards to students!

Today students in this system,  

as tender as 5 years old 

(if the teacher chooses to comply)

are taught/groomed to dispute the indisputable...

He created them male and female, 

and blessed them 

and called them Mankind 

in the day they were created. 

Gen.5:2

Matthew 19:4

Jesus answered, "Have you not read that from the beginning 

the Creator 'made them male and female,'

Mark 10:6

However, from the beginning of creation,

 'God made them male and female.'

...and we wonder at the chaos and confusion of this age?!!

where by and large, the world has turned its back on God?!!

and ignores His everlasting Word?!!

Where defiled hearts defile innocence?!!

Evil as surely as good 

recognizes the sacred, fleeting season of childhood!

How sacred is the virgin soil

Of childhood's innocence  

How terribly accountable

Each one who tills and plants

Where evil as surely as Good

Recognizes this truth;

The fleeting season of childhood 

Soon sheds its tender youth

How then, we ought to sift the seeds 

That fall, so they will sprout 

A goodly crop, to choke the weeds

Of heresy and doubt 

Before planting time, brief and fair

Slips from the supple limb   

Remember the Creator, ere

They find no joy in Him

Janet Martin

"H-m-m! He's got one too!"

exclaimed Innocent Granddaughter at her observation

during little boy's diaper-change.

"Just like my baby brother!"

'Yes' I replied.

'that means he's a boy! 

If you 'got one' you're a boy!

If you don't, you are a girl!

God made it that simple and easy to figure out

and don't ever let anyone tell you any different!'

(Believe it or not, these unthinkable conversations are important today!!)

Eccles. 12 NASB

Remember God in Your Youth

12 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, 

before the evil days come and the years approach 

when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”

; 2 before the sun and the light,

 the moon and the stars are darkened, 

and clouds return after the rain; 

3 on the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, 

and strong men are bent over, 

the grinders stop working because they are few, 

and those who look through [a]windows grow [b]dim; 

4 and the doors on the street are shut 

as the sound of the grinding mill is low, 

and one will arise at the sound of the bird, 

and all the daughters of song will [c]sing softly. 

5 Furthermore, people are afraid of a high place 

and of terrors on the road; 

the almond tree blossoms, 

the grasshopper drags itself along, 

and the caper berry is ineffective. 

For man goes to his eternal home 

while the mourners move around in the street. 

6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is [d]broken 

and the golden bowl is crushed, 

the pitcher by the spring is shattered 

and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 

7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, 

and the [e]spirit will return to God who gave it. 

8 “Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!”

9 In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge;

 and he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.

 10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.

11 The words of the wise are like [f]goads, 

and masters of these collections are like driven nails; 

they are given by one Shepherd. 

12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: 

the [g]writing of many books is endless, 

and excessive study is [h]wearying to the body.

13 The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: 

fear God and keep His commandments, 

because this applies to every person. 

14 For God will bring every act to judgment, 

everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.