Stay young?  Ridiculous.

How about grow young?  You can you know. Crazy as it might seem.

Many  children taught me how over my years of teaching.

You see, it is all too common when you give a test

for each wrong answer to be circled

often in glaring red

and the number  of wrong answers placed on top of the paper.

At least this was how it was done years ago. Maybe things have changed.

As I’d walk around the room passing back the tests

I saw how my students would hang their heads and slink down in their seats.

Embarrassment written all over their bodies.

Students trying to peak at each others sheet to see if possibly they had done better.

Nothing conducive to education.

Nothing that inspired a student to achieve and master a skill.

Shame. Pain. Guilt.

Crumbled papers. Tear filled eyes.

I ached at what I witnessed again and again. Precious young  children.

So I began a new practice. I put away the red pencil

and chose hot pink, lemon yellow, sky blue and lime green.

Bright. Happy colors.

Circled the answers that were correct and placed that number

in big bold color for them to see.

Eyes danced. Smiles replaced fear. Strength.  Hope. Young.

I spoke about the process of learning and the importance of

paying attention to what they got right.

We went over the skills again and again but with a growth emphasis.

Truth. Wisdom.

I saw the difference in how quickly my students began to learn

and  how eager they were  to master a skill.

Weakness  overcome by strength.

Grace.

Grow young with me today and receive His grace for every mistake and every wrong turn.

Glimpse the wonder of Him covering you with bright, glorious colors reminding you of

the times you followed Him and obeyed His Voice.

Open  your heart to His understanding and patience.

Covering you with His amazing love.

Grow young with me today, my friends.

Dance with the freedom of living in His grace.

Wonder. Awe.

His Way is not ours.

He rights every wrong and gives new beginnings whenever we turn to Him.

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; Psalm 92:12