"School days, school days,
Dear old Golden Rule days..."
"School Days"
(1907)
"So then, whatever you desire that others would do
to and for you, even so do also to and for them,
for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 7:12
Illustration by Harry Wingfield
From the book, "Going To School"
By M.E. Gagg
(1959)
It was in the era just after the Second World War
when, with the encouragement of President Dwight D. Eisenhower,
the Congress of the United States of America added the words,
"One nation, under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance.
I believe that after witnessing first hand the horror of the
war and its aftermath of victory, the former general and
Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces
in Europe knew that without the intervention of Almighty God
on the side of the allies, the outcome of the conflict might
have been drastically different, both for the
United States and the other nations of the world.
My parents grew up in the post-war 1940's and 1950's when
America's economy began to boom and prosperity returned
to the land, yet, they also lived beneath the shadow of the
new Cold War between America and the Soviet Union, and
the very real threat of atomic bombs being used against us.
Many children at that time went to school every
morning where the day started off with the saying of
the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a short,
simple prayer, or a reading from the Holy Bible.
Did this pause to contemplate the genuine goodness
and mercy of Almighty God before the beginning of the school day
somehow cause irreparable damage in the minds and hearts of
somehow cause irreparable damage in the minds and hearts of
of these impressionable school kids? The answer is no.
In fact, it seems this simple act of honoring God and relying on His
wisdom to get through the school day produced, for the most part,
a generation of responsible, reliable, and wise adults.
People who came to believe that personal integrity and
good character were as important as a job well done.
A daily word from the Word also stirred hope and compassion
in many hearts, and a desire in many as they reached out for their
diplomas, to go out into the world and make it a better place,
not only for themselves, but for others.
I am sorry that we are no longer allowed to have daily Bible
readings within the classrooms of America's public schools today.
I believe every child, even those who are not necessarily Christians,
would benefit greatly from the timeless inspiration found within God's Word,
and may even one day discover for themselves how great are His works,
especially if they choose to put their hope and trust in Him!
PSALM ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN
PRAISE THE LORD!
HALLELUJAH!
I will praise and give thanks to the Lord
with my whole heart in the council of the upright
and in the congregation.
The works of the Lord are great, sought out by those
who have delight in them.
His work is honorable and glorious and His
righteousness endures forever.
He has made His wonderful works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious, merciful, and full of loving compassion.
He has given food and provisions to those who reverently
and worshipfully fear Him; He will remember His covenant
forever and imprint it on His mind.
He has declared and shown to His people the power of
His works in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of His hands are absolute truth and justice,
faithful, and right; and all His decrees and precepts
are sure, fixed, established, and trustworthy.
They stand fast and are established forever and ever
and are done in absolute truth and uprightness.
He has sent redemption to His people:
He has commanded His covenant to be forever;
holy is His name, inspiring awe, reverence, and godly fear.
The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the
beginning of Wisdom and skill, the preceding and the
first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet;
a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning
have all those who do the will of the Lord.
Their praise of Him endures forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment