School Days, School Days, Good Ol' Golden Rule Days

grandboy and his teacher

"Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

Today's the big day: 5-year-old grandboy's first day of kindergarten. I remember in living color his daddy's first day of kindergarten in Bogalusa, Louisiana, 1988—walking toward the school carrying his little lunch box and tightly holding his first-grader sister's hand. I cried like a baby.

Unlike most children's classroom experience around the world, however, this grandboy, as well as our fourth-grader grandboy in Indiana, will be taught God's word, the Bible, because they are students in Christian schools. Thank You, Lord Jesus, and please watch over all the students and teachers this year in public and private schools. Put Your hedge of protection round about them and fill them with Your knowledge and godly wisdom. Help them not be conformed to the bad ways of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of their minds so they will know Your good and perfect will. Teach them to respect and obey authority, to walk not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor join in with mockers. Train them to live by Your golden rule: to treat others the way they want to be treated. Plant in these boys and girls hearts a delight in You and Your word of truth. May they grow to be mighty men and women of God, who love you, obey Your voice, and hold fast to you, all the days of their lives. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen and amen.