You know that I am one of the most passionate promoters of education that you will encounter. Education saved me from a life of poverty. Education has entertained and enlightened me for decades. Education has challenged me to do better, be better, and want to be better. I have a master’s degree in school administration and if I had the physical energy and the money I would pursue my doctorate.
However, it occurred to me yesterday that education is such a small piece of the puzzle that we put together to form our life. Our relationships, our attitude, our mental and physical limitations, our determination, our environment and our faith all fit together to create the big picture of who we are and what we do with our time and talents. The Bible encourages us to pursue knowledge, to use it wisely, and to use our individual gifts in the service of others. Yet I know that many of my best and brightest students will not become happy, successful, productive adults. There are too many other pieces of their life that are already missing or misshapen. It will be an ongoing battle to put their life together. Not trying to sound pessimistic, such realistic. I’ve seen so many young people go down the wrong path despite a good education, a good family, and good opportunities.
So what is a teacher, mother, and grandmother to do? Pray. Preach if necessary. Continue to use her time and talents in the service of others. And make sure her small piece of the puzzle still serves its purpose as well as it can.
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