What have you learned?
This evening I attended two functions at the local school. In the grade school two of my granddaughters were participating in the student awards night. We were instructed to go to the gymnasium where we found people from history portrayed by the children all around the perimeter. Each child was dressed in the costume of the person they were portraying. Near them or being held by them were buttons that said push or play. When you touch the push button they began an oration about the person they were portraying. While some students seem to be engaged and enjoying their biography of this person, others seem distant and disillusioned. The heart was not in this project and it was very evident by their body language and the product they rendered.
The second program of the evening was performed by the high school band, choir, jazz band, and ensemble. They were elegant in their dress, and behavior. You could tell great effort was put into learning each piece of music that was performed this evening. Every grandparent there knew that their grandchild was performing their very best and therefore stood out from all the rest.
Although there is a considerable age difference in these two student bodies one thing was the same, they studied. Whether it was the speech they were performing or the music, neither could have been done without preparation. The Bible tells us: study and show thyself approved. An occasional sour note, and the evidence of a disgruntled student, was clear indication that not everyone studied.
There is an old adage that states; youth is wasted on the young, the reason for this statement is because when you are older you realize what a privilege it was to be given opportunities like these. Then the question arises did we take advantage of these opportunities when we were young, often time the answer is no.
As parents many of us offer music lessons or tutoring to our children. At the time they are taking the lessons very little if any appreciation is shown for our endeavor. But we as parents know when they are older they will appreciate the sacrifices we made for them in these areas. That’s why it is important for us to keep them in Sunday school, school, and keeping up with their lessons both music and scholastic. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. They won’t always appreciate it, but they will benefit from it when they are older. And who knows they may even thank us.
We as authors were not born with pens in our hands. We had to go through the struggles of learning grammar, how to write, and how to do research. While these may not have been fun activities at the time hopefully we are reaping the benefits of them now. I can personally attest to one of the places I learned the most was in the school of hard knocks. If we would only listen to our parents a lot of these hard knocks could have been avoided.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
II Timothy 2:15
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Philippians 4:9
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psalms 32:8
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation;
on thee do I wait all the day.
Psalms 25:5
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
Proverbs 4:11