Young and Old
Ray and I joined New Year’s Eve celebrations first at the home of a friend and then at a party at our daughter’s home. We were the youngest guests at the first party and the oldest at the second. I played Rook® at the first party and Duplos® at the second. It was a fun way to ring out the old year and ring in the new.
I am thankful that God continues to give us opportunities to be with people of all ages. The opportunity for our children to be with people of all ages was one of many homeschool blessings.
The common school practice of keeping children in close quarters mainly with people their own age is relatively new in the history of the world. Even my father, who was born in 1931, attended a one-room school for part of his childhood.
Being with people of different ages was God’s idea originally. Except for the fairly rare occurrence of twins and triplets, almost every person in the history of the world has been born into a family in which he was the only one who was exactly his own age.
The flexibility of homeschooling allowed our children more time than their public school friends to prepare for and teach children’s Bible classes at church, spend time with our church’s senior citizens group, volunteer at the nursing home and at Mother’s Day Out, and spend time with their own multi-age family — Mom, Dad, their siblings, and grandparents.
The next time you fear that your children don’t have enough time with children their own ages, turn that fear on its head and be thankful for the wonderful multi-age opportunities they have. Very few adults spend their days with family members, friends, and co-workers who are exactly their own ages. It’s okay — and perhaps even wonderful — if they don’t spend their childhoods that way either.
Praise the Lord from 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 148:7, 12-13