The Days of our Youth

Right before a major trip up North, the car needed to be inspected. I left it with the capable inspectors, and headed to a nearby shady green-way for a walk. It is blistering hot already in Charlotte, but the tree-lined green-way was comfortable. As I walked along, I passed a little pond where some ducks were sitting on a log. I remembered several years ago when my daughter and I released a frog there that we had raised from a tadpole. Asherel named the frog, "Greeny." (Guess what color Greeny was?) Anyway, Asherel never met a creature she didn't love and she would become very excited about this time each spring when the tadpoles hatched. Every year, we had to catch tadpoles, bring home a good bit of the pond water so they would have lots of yummy microorganisms to munch on, and then watch them sprout legs and lose their tails.

It was pretty fascinating really, except for when the tadpoles died, which was often. In fact, I am not sure I recall a single tadpole surviving, except Greeny. But, soon the care and feeding of Greeny fell to me as Asherel lost interest. So I suggested we let Greeny go. We walked together to the little pond along the green-way, and dumped Greeny into the water. He quickly disappeared.

As I walked along the edge of the pond yesterday in the blistery hot day, I remembered the little girl and how we used to hunt for tadpoles together. Sometimes I wish some things remained the same as the hot sun beating down on a Carolina day.

That "little" girl and I will be traveling for a couple of weeks, visiting grandfolk and colleges. Additionally, today my dear daughter-in-law, Karissa, will be graduating from law school. We get to hang out with her and my beloved son for a couple days, and then on to my folks and a full flotilla of college visits. My blog may be sparsely posted during that time. Forgive me, but my heart will be centered on this trip to see the world again through the eyes of my daughter, no longer catching tadpoles, but instead  glimpsing her future as she sprouts her legs and loses her tail.

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Ecclesiastes 12:1

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them"

1 Timothy 4:12 

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Ecclesiastes 11:9 

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Jeremiah 1:4-8 

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”