In The Beginning…

In The Beginning…8-30-25

When I was younger, I don’t ever remember being read to. I can’t remember my biological parents ever reading. I remember learning to love books from school. That was my way out. I could go everywhere in a book. I read all the classics. Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, was my favorite.

Our boys were readers. They loved being read to, and were avid readers throughout school. Our grandson is the same. He is in the 4th grade, and is now 9th grade reading level. For this, I am thankful. As a teacher, I know it is hard to get boys interested in reading.

I hope some day we look back at today’s post and we laugh. Let me explain. My grandson, who loved school, loved reading, and loves math came over tonight and asked me the one question I didn’t think would ever come out of his mouth. Could he quit school and have Papa homeschool him? What? It seems there is a boy in his class that won’t let him be involved in any activities at recess. He basically tells the others that my grandson isn’t allowed to play with them. The others do not go against him. Yes, the teacher knows. But, you know how that goes. He asked if maybe he could just do virtual schooling and stay at home.

So, I pray. I asked him if he had talked to God about this? Has he prayed about it? Could I pray about it with him? What can we do to improve this? He said something that stunned me. He said that teachers have a weird sense of how bullying works. They think you talk to the kid and they say I’m sorry. Then everything is good. That’s not how it works, Moppy!

In the beginning, he loved school. In the beginning, he felt like he belonged. And in the beginning, he thought everyone was nice and loving. His view of people is changing. His reality is to learn that isn’t the case anymore.

John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” I want him to cling to the word. Cling to Jesus. Cling to the Father. Read His truth. Rely on His love. Always remember that he is our beginning, our middle, and our future.