What Season?

This past week it has been quite warm in our classrooms. We know we are in the season of summer still, however; Monday is the official start of fall. This might be a bit hard for some to believe since we are expected to have warm weather through the next few days.
               Our calendar seasons don’t always follow the weather seasons. It was our God who created the seasons as He placed the sun & moon in the sky on the fourth day. We know when He created the seasons, they were PERFECT. We also know, that sin entered the world and this messed everything up.
               We are told in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, “To everything there is a season.” We don’t always want to wait for the season. I’m already hearing in my room, “I can’t wait for the leaves to change color” or “I want for my birthday” or “I can’t wait for Christmas” and my favorite, “When do we get out of school?”
               When the children tell me, they can’t wait for certain events, I explain, they have no choice but to wait as we can’t speed up time.
What season are you in?
To everything there is a season. Ecclesiastes 3:1 “
               “Patience” “Wait your turn” “That’s for the older kiddos” “Trust me, you’ll understand when you’re older” It seems that many children want to do things before it is time to do them. The younger ones in Ms. Laurie’s room want to do the things the children in Mrs. Helmling’s room do and those in Mrs. Helmling’s room would like to have the privileges of the children in Mr. Jurica’s room. Of course, those in Mr. Jurica’s room…. (well, I’ll let you fill this in).
               Aren’t we as adults also guilty of this as well? When we are expecting a new little one in the family, we are very excited and hope the child will be like everyone else. Parents count the fingers and toes, reflexes are tested. From that point on the comparisons begin and the race begins the be “THE BEST” - Not necessarily the child’s best but to be better than everyone else’s child. There’s the push to get things done in a hurry. We expect our little ones to walk early, talk early, learn to read early, learn their colors, numbers, and letters early. When they do, we are often in a hurry for them to slow down. We often wish we had the time to do over with them. We spend our time comparing ourselves and our children to others. Why do we do this? We do this because of sin and temptation. The very temptation the evil one used in the Garden with Eve, when he said the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil would make Eve like GOD.
               When we rush ourselves and our children to do better than everyone else, are we teaching them to do their best for the LORD - to be their best for the LORD or are we doing it out of pride to show off to others? 
In Ecclesiastes we are told there is a season for everything. We are in the growing season here at Grace. I know, it is fall, but we are growing your children to be the best the LORD has created them to be.
               As we watch the children reaching up towards the nurturing that comes from their teachers not one of these children is going to be learning at the same rate. None of us would think to force a flower to grow. Help us grow your children in grace, knowledge, and wisdom as we teach them the ways of the LORD and the knowledge to be successful in their lives. Remember – we are all fearfully and wonderfully made – Psalm 139:14
© vjhelmling