Time with All Ages
American sculptor John Rogers was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1829 and died in New Canaan, Connecticut, in 1904. Rogers sculpted in bronze and often depicted scenes from everyday life. From molds of his sculptures, Rogers produced plaster casts and sold them by mail order. The average price was $15. They were very popular in the last half of the 19th century, especially those known as “Rogers Groups.”
The sculpture, Neighboring Pews, below, was one of the approximately 80 “Rogers Groups” designs that he created. He released Neighboring Pews in 1883. Newspapers advertised it as an excellent gift, particularly for ministers.
I like this playful depiction of people at different stages of life—a little boy playing with a man’s hat and gloves, young adults perhaps meeting for the first time, and an older woman.
One of our homeschooling joys was the opportunity to spend time with people of different ages. God is kind to join different ages together in families and churches and communities. He is kind to give us people to bless us and people to bless. It really is okay for your children not to spend hours and hours, week after week, year after year with lots of other children of the same age. God puts people of different ages together all the time.
Praise the Lord from the earth . . .
Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
Both young men and virgins;
Old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven.
Psalm 148:7a, 11-13