God sometimes gives us unexpected gifts. Our gift has been a grandson who enlivens our lives and makes retirement very different than the one we anticipated. He is a special joy. And that's "Casey." In 2006 we fulfilled our dream of living in Italy for a year. It was every bit as wonderful as anticipated. This blog begins in 2005 as we prepared for that experience. Since then we have explored many places together. That's the "Travel." And finally, I am a person of opinions--spiritually, politically, on just about anything and that's the "Other Stuff." Welcome to my blog.

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

My Prayer

Prayer is vital to my life. I believe that it is heard and answered--whether or not to my liking. Often I tell God what I want and how he can accomplish this desire, need, want, whatever. Foolish? Yep! But, oh so human.

So, along with my regular prayers for friends' health, safe travels, the work of missionaries, children's wayward ways, solace and comfort for peoples' sorrows, my spiritual growth, and more, I have added another urgency for the time being.

Please, Lord, help Casey mature between now and the start of school in September. Please?!

Prepare him to do his homework (all of it) out of personal motivation rather than parental oversight and prodding. Teach him to be joyful in geometry, Spanish, English, California history, science--not just in gym class.  Let him please his teachers--even those who are difficult to please..and, heaven knows that there are these.

Help him to understand that yes, he is only 13 and in the 8th grade but....what he does now counts and helps to determine his future. How he performs in these classes dictates where he will be placed in high school. Give him that unnatural ability to see the future in terms of his achievement, effort and depth of focus and desire.

He still wants to build with his legos, explore the creek below the park, play challenging games on his DS, improve in karate--in short, do all those things 13 year olds should do with their time. But...today's kids are being robbed of their childhoods by adults who forget their own childhoods. They are taking classes where teachers advise parents at the start of the year that it will be to the students' advantage to hire a tutor that year.Why? Because in the past, this 7th grade class, was not taught until high school.

The freedom to be Tom or Huck is long gone, but the heart of the boy that lived in them still beats in the boy of 2011. So, although my prayer is that Casey will grapple with and grow in self-motivation in his school work and accomplishments, we will see that he still has time for the boy things.

So, that is my prayer right now--a growing maturity that still allows for the joys and fun of being a kid. I believe that my God wants that, too, and will hear my prayer with a smile and a "yes."

For the record, he did achieve this year. And..we are proud of him.

7 comments:

Mindy said...

I'm certain God will answer your heartfelt prayer! Beautifully written

barb cabot said...

I know too God is listening. He's wonderful and you and Ken are wonderful too! Love you all!

Gail Hecko said...

Jane....Roberto and I were in Greve yesterday and I thought of you and your family. Casey is so lucky to have you and Ken parenting him. He will be fine.

Jane said...

Thanks, friends. Gail, sure wish we were there when you were. Did you eat anyplace in Greve? If so, where?

So many people believe we are doing so much with Casey, but, the truth is, appearances don't tell it all.

Anonymous said...

I have been a fan of your since 2005 and watched your grandson grow up. Wow it seems like yesterday he was so little and now this picutre. You should be so proud. God Bless you and your beauitful family

Jane said...

Dear Annoymous...would love to know about you. Thanks for the comment and reading all this. You've been with us since the beginning...hope to hear from you again!

Terry said...

He is growing up beautifully, Jane, under your and Ken's love and guidance. Brava and bravo to you, and God bless you all.