More poetry, and other schoolish thoughts

Just about a year ago I blogged about the check-mark game that Dale plays during church sermons to keep him tuned in to what is going on and help the time pass for a fidgety little boy.

Judging by the fact that he makes far fewer check marks than he did when we started, I guess the game is getting old for him.

But it has gotten him in the habit of listening to (and hearing) what is being said, which was a big part of the plan to begin with.

We love the times when he shows evidence that he was listening more than he appeared to be.

One of those times came this week. On Sunday afternoon Greg and Dale were visiting a new home with friends. The lady who lived there had several paintings displayed that she had done.

Among them were a set of two butterfly paintings, one of which included II Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Dale eyed the paintings and then boldly told his hostess, "Those verses were in our sermon today!"

(I wasn't there, and he and Greg couldn't remember the verse on the second painting, but both knew it had been in the sermon too.)

When this story was relayed to me after they returned home it was

1 - encouraging reassurance that even if the 'check marks' may not show it, God's truths are being heard and soaking into his young heart and mind

2 - an excellent reminder that little boys DO fidget, but they CAN and DO listen and learn while they are doing so. A principle that I firmly believe in and fully intend to allow for in our schooling. But reminders are good. :)

3 - an all-too tempting teaching moment.

I asked Dale to tell me about the paintings, the colors and what they looked like. Then we talked about the Scripture verses used.

I asked him if he thought she chose a good picture (the butterfly) to illustrate the verses, and why.

This led to a comparison of caterpillars becoming new creatures, just like we become completely new when we give our lives to Jesus.

And, because I couldn't help myself, we ended up with this poem:

Caterpillar

Christina Rossetti

Brown and furry

Caterpillar in a hurry

Take your walk

To the shady leaf, or stalk,

Or what not,

Which may be the chosen spot.

No toad spy you,
Hovering bird of prey pass by you;

Spin and die,

To live again a butterfly.