Pass it On

Tomorrow Jacob and Grace begin their second year of preschool. It is a mixture of feelings for me - happiness that they are beginning to grow up, yet sadness that they are growing up; awe at how quickly time goes by; apprehension of turning over my precious babies to others to mold and teach; and a host of other feelings, that I am certain any of you who are parents can appreciate and understand.

It seems as if every day I hear stories which cause me to hesitate to put my kids in school. Newspapers are full of headlines. Recently, I've heard stories of very young children passing on information that even most adults wouldn't know, much less small children. Cruel pranks, youthful impulses that cause life-altering debilities and sometimes death . . . the list goes on. In all honesty, it causes me to want to add one more task to my daily responsibilities: HOME SCHOOLING! But, given my extreme time limitations, balance dictates that home schooling is not an option for me.

So, what do I do? While I "investigate" every teacher and questionable child that I become aware of (the attorney in me causes extreme amounts of cynicism . . . can't help it!), I recognize that I cannot be there to protect Jacob and Grace every moment of their lives. But they are so young; so innocent; so trusting; . . . I struggle.

The hope that I grasp onto when these thoughts become too overwhelming is God's promise -- I pray daily for God to sheild and protect my children from ungodly influences; to protect their innocent little hearts and spirits; to protect their physical beings when I cannot be there to catch them.

And, I teach my children (even at 4!) to honor and love the things of God. Instilling the values and treasures of the fruits of the spirit promises to overcome each and every obstacle Jacob and Grace will face: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. These fruits are both something that you "are" as well as something you "do." These traits will develop character that grows over time -- and will see my children through the many days that I won't be there, right beside them, to protect and guard them.

Lest you forget the things your eyes have seen . . . teach them to your children and your grandchildren. —Deuteronomy 4:9

May I never faulter in my responsibility to pass onto my children the character and traits that will safely carry them through their lives with honor, love, justice, happiness, and joy.