My boy graduated now. He and Isaac are both enlisted in United States Marines and are scheduled to leave for basic on august 1st. All kinds of things for the mama heart to process. We sure would appreciate prayers. I’m just trusting that God is leading these guys and they’re going to go out there and do “small things with great love.”

Graduation speech for Moses 2023

 

“I have learned that the head does not hear anything until the heart has listened, and what the heart knows today, the head will understand tomorrow.” James Stephen

 

Before I wrote this, I went back and read a lot of writing from years ago when we lived in Washington, when Moses was first starting his school. It’s hard to separate his from Isaac ‘s education. They were just kind of always doing everything together. This is an excerpt from something I had written when Moses was 7.

 

Spring 2012

The other night, it rained all night long. The sun shone bright the next morning, and I sat on the front porch with my cup of coffee. The boys were up, dressed in their cameo, BB guns slung over their shoulders. Up to greet the day. I watched them go, up the hill, through the fresh green springtime that sparkled like jewels around them. The dog’s tail wagged. They were happy. Halfway up, they suddenly stopped, spun around, guns drawn, imaginary lassos twirling wildly. A few minutes later the trouble is over, and they calmly continued on their way. They were too far away for me to make out their words. It was like watching a silent film, one which captures the wholesome goodness of little boys.

 

God made a world out of his dreams,

Of magic mountains, oceans, and streams,

Prairies and plains and wooded land.

Then paused and thought, I need someone to stand,

On top of the mountains, to conquer the seas,

Explore the plains and climb the trees.

Someone to start out small and grow,

Sturdy and strong like a tree, and so

He created boys, full of spirit and fun

To explore and conquer, to romp and run 

With dirty faces, and banged up chins

With courageous hearts and boyish grins.

And when he’d completed the task he’d begun

Surely he said, “That’s a job well done!”

Author unknown

 

Moses really was a dream little home school student. When Isaac started school, he didn’t know what to do with himself. Even teasing Olivia wasn’t as much fun without Isaac there, so he sat himself down to do school, too. He pretty much kept right up with Isaac through the elementary school years. They were just having a grand time playing outside, discovering our great American history, being introduced to math concepts, and hardly even realizing it, learning how to read. 

 

That being said, you may wonder why Isaac finished two years before him. All I can think, is it’s because Moses took a year long comic book detour. I’m sure he learned a lot then, too. I think he first learned about the pyramids from Tintin. And we all know that Bill Watterson is pretty much a genius. The library lady even gave him her old Archie comic books. I’m sure he must have learned something from Archie and Jughead. If nothing else, he developed a large vocabulary of onomatopoeia, which he kindly passed on to Abe and Jer. Eventually, though, he looked up from The Farside of Riverdale High, and noticed that Isaac was galloping along ahead. Well, maybe galloping wouldn’t quite be the right verb to describe Isaac. Loping, striding, whatever with those long legs he was getting somewhere. Or maybe he was just zooming along in the old white van, whatever the case, Moses decided to put down the comic books, (at least the lame ones), and catch up.

 

So he got busy studying history, government, the world, math, and all the other important stuff. I seriously think I have learned more about history from my high schoolers telling me about the books they’re reading than I ever knew before. Moses has always had a big heart, and I’ve so appreciated seeing how that has helped to shape his worldview and understanding of humanity. He’s always had compassion for those who have had a rough road in life.

 

When my teenage son is sending me quotes like these; 

 

“The right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things we have always carried nearest our hearts- for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations and to make the world itself at last free.  To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood for the principles that gave her birth and happiness. God helping her, she can do no other.” Wilson 

 

  And; 

 

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary….. in framing a government, which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed and in the first place oblige it to control itself.”

James Madison

 

I don’t know, it makes me think that he has a better understanding of this country and the way our government is supposed to be than most grown-up Americans. And now, if the Lord will, his plans for the next few years are to serve our country. That’s good. A country can only be as good as the men who are willing to serve it. I know that God will be with him wherever he goes. I know that a good life isn’t necessarily an easy one. A good life is one that honors God.

 

I am really going to miss having you at home, Moses. You are a nice kid and even though sometimes all the interruptions of schoolwork seemed annoying, they were worthy, too. You know, helping make lunch and taking care of the fussy baby, all those things have helped to shape you into the nice guy that you are today. I used to have a quote up in our schoolroom that said “I love you for a heart that’s kind, not for the knowledge of your mind.” A kind heart will go a lot further in life than knowing those algebraic formulas.

 

I remind my kids often that they should be performing for an audience of 

One. You can’t go wrong that way. And like Jesus, you will grow in wisdom and find favor with God and man. And like one of our friends says, remind yourself often of who you are and where you are going. Never forget that you are a christian and that you are on your way to heaven.

 

You know how it is with the home schooling family, education doesn’t begin and end at a certain hour, it doesn’t begin and end at a certain age. Education should be a lifestyle. We should always be seeking to learn new things. And Moses, I hope that all your life you will strive to have a greater understanding not only of the world that God has made, but also a greater understanding of the hearts of the men and women around you. I hope that you will always have compassion. I hope that wherever you go you will be one to offer a cup of cold water to the thirsty and a message of hope to those that are broken. I can’t wait to hear all the stories you’re going to have to tell. I believe that they will be good ones. 

 

And earning this diploma does not mean that you have learned everything you need to know. It simply means that I am no longer going to be the one to facilitate your education, I’m trusting now that you will take that responsibility on yourself. It means that you are ready to go out and be your own man. We have laid the foundation, now you go and build a worthy life. 

I will end with this short poem by Louise Ayers Grant

 

God has such a splendid way

Of tempting beauty out of clay

And from the scattered dust that sleep,

Summoned men who laugh and weep.

 

Don’t be intimidated by men, Moses, the very great were only summoned from dust, just like you, and the very wicked are still image bearers of God. And some day all of mankind will stand together to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or evil. For Jesus’ words are recorded in Luke, “my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear:  fear him, which after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear him.” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

 

So live a life, Moses, that is worthy of bringing praise to the one who has created you.

 

Love, Mom