Family Life Revealed

Most people do not have the opportunity to meet their great-great-grandparents. Autumn has been blessed to have two great-great-grandmas living. One she will meet in a couple of weeks and the other is the subject of this encomium.

I will always remember the first time Autumn met her great-great-grandma Marsh. Autumn was still small enough that her great-great-grandma could hold her on her lap and it was such a precious sight to see! This woman who has lived so much of her life was holding this baby who has so much life to live. At that moment I realized that without great-great-grandma Marsh, Autumn would not be and I felt a deep gratitude for the things she had gone through and the life she has lived. Although I do not know her very well at all (she is Brandon’s great-grandma) I learned so much about her character that day. As she held Autumn on her lap she gave her advice about life that filled the room with laughter. She would say things like, “You rule the roost now!” and “If you don’t get your way, just stomp your feet!” Her humor at her age was such a delight to see. Then when she got quiet someone asked what she was thinking and she replied, “I am praying for Autumn.” It was a very special moment, one that extended blessing from one generation to those that follow.

We had the privilege to visit great-great-grandma Marsh again six months later and the interaction between her and Autumn was just as sweet. This time Autumn was much too big for great-great-grandma’s lap but they enjoyed the garden together and exchanged many smiles. As time may be drawing near to the end of one life on earth I want to preserve these memories for Autumn to have. Although she may not remember these times she will know that she has a GREAT-GREAT-grandma Marsh.

21st Century Western Culture is obsessed with education, and for great reason.  Young minds need to be trained, the genius of the older generations must be passed down, and the torch must burn brighter than ever before.  I cannot imagine anyone in any society, in any social setting disagreeing with passing down knowledge from one generation to the next.  But ask people how to accomplish that feat, and the debate is on.  Even amongst education administrators there is a large debate as how to educate our young.

Ken Robinson, in the following video provides a fresh (and often comical) look at education, creativity, and a passion for life.  Check it out.

I have a younger brother who is one of the most athletic and creative people I know.  It is actually quite irritating how quickly he can master musicianship and endeavors of athleticism.  So what seems logical is to allow him to exploit his strengths, gain power, finesse and experience.  But our society requires these dreams to be extracurricular.  Why is it that we require our young ones to learn chemistry (which many of them will never use), calculate complex formulas (that are soon forgotten by 95% of individuals), and then wonder why we are failing to educate this upcoming generation?

Contradictions abound in the realm of education.  We explain that everyone is unique, that everyone has their own strengths.  And yet we require everyone to participate in the same classes, learn the same things, and become the same as everyone around them.

What if, instead of bringing our children up to take all of the most advanced classes in the maths, sciences, and language, we allowed them to gain a basic understanding and then begin to exploit the gifts that are natural within them.  Give the students a foundation, instill within them a desire, but allow their natural gifting to drive them to excellence.  Our children are talented.  Let’s train them to embrace their talents, not destroy them before they even get to explore them.