Unless everything in a man's memory of
childhood is misleading, there is a timesomewhere between the ages of five and
twelve which corresponds to the phase
ethologists have isolated in the deveolp-
ment of birds, when an impression lasting
only a few seconds may be imprinted on the
young bird for life. This is the way a bird
emerging from the darkness of the egg knows
itself, the mechanism of its relating to the
world...Expose a child to a particular
environment at his susceptible time and he
will perceive in the shapes of that environment
until he dies.
from: A Century of Sanctuary
by: Wallace Stegner
Pre-pubescent boys in white Sunday shirts,with their ties askew and shirt-tails hanging out of their rumbled slacks is such a distinctive image to me. Here in Utah on any given Sunday, the sidewalks in the vicinity of our chapels, and in driveways and church parking lots can be found churning with boys dressed up in their Sunday best.
I 've noticed that boys under the age of approximately 8 yr old or younger- can look darling and doll-like when they are dressed in their shirts and ties and shiny Sunday loafers. Often they look as though they have just stepped off the pages of a
J. Crew catalog.
But give me a little boy between the ages of 8 and 12 and I'll show you a boy that seems to be able to do something to a white shirt and tie that has it looking disheveled and a rumbled mess before its cooled from a diligent ironing just moments before. Are these young boys meant to be in white shirts and ties and uncomfortable binding shoes?? I hardly think so. Its also at this age where boys cant be kept in slacks that remain long enough and always seem to be wearing those plaguing 'floods'. The hems just cant keep up with the growth spurts. I've noticed slippers, boat shoes and 'Nikes' and even flip flops (go flip flops!!!) below the heightening hem lines along with knobby ankles that may or may not be graced by socks. (my own kids included of course!!) And of course the dreaded belt is optional. If one wears a belt you stand a lesser chance of being able to wear the trousers below the hips!!! Its a rare mother indeed that can keep a adolescent boy looking dapper in his “go'in to Sunday clothes”!
Then I begin to notice a subtle transformation of sorts, in boys at about 16 years of age. This is when they seem to begin to look comfortable and 'suitable' in their Sunday attire. Its about this time that these darlings are old enough to bless the sacrament, that they begin to look like they “fit” in their Sunday attire. This is when I myself can begin thinking about purchasing their first pre-mission suit, hoping against hope that they wont grow too much taller. (This parent always held out hope that they could pack that suit up with all their other mission paraphernalia and use it within its last thread.)
My musing here are due to the gratitude I feel as I watch these young boys grow up in the church.
The point being just how grateful we should be with all the effort expended in doing what's right and going against what comes 'natural' to these young guys. That our darling boys, teenagers, rebel-rousers are suiting up, stepping out, and going the distance with us to church is a remarkable phenomenon if you really think about it. How very, very grateful we should be that a wrinkled shirt is plucked up off the closet floor, where it was left from the week before, and willingly donned for the morning sojourn to church. The oversight of a wrinkle or two is acceptable in my book, 'cause I'm just grateful for their willingness to attend and for the lack of arguments put up for going in the first place. Boys CRAVE sleep on Sunday mornings, not spit shines and 3 hours of church!!
So its really not about the clothes, its about the obedience and hope and faith and goodwill that come into play each and every Sunday! Kissing and encouraging that boy who may not have the cleanest fingernails and who may lack a perfect crease in their slack is what I want to be all about!!
TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO....
Great Sabbath to All of You!!!
I 've noticed that boys under the age of approximately 8 yr old or younger- can look darling and doll-like when they are dressed in their shirts and ties and shiny Sunday loafers. Often they look as though they have just stepped off the pages of a
J. Crew catalog.But give me a little boy between the ages of 8 and 12 and I'll show you a boy that seems to be able to do something to a white shirt and tie that has it looking disheveled and a rumbled mess before its cooled from a diligent ironing just moments before. Are these young boys meant to be in white shirts and ties and uncomfortable binding shoes?? I hardly think so. Its also at this age where boys cant be kept in slacks that remain long enough and always seem to be wearing those plaguing 'floods'. The hems just cant keep up with the growth spurts. I've noticed slippers, boat shoes and 'Nikes' and even flip flops (go flip flops!!!) below the heightening hem lines along with knobby ankles that may or may not be graced by socks. (my own kids included of course!!) And of course the dreaded belt is optional. If one wears a belt you stand a lesser chance of being able to wear the trousers below the hips!!! Its a rare mother indeed that can keep a adolescent boy looking dapper in his “go'in to Sunday clothes”!
Then I begin to notice a subtle transformation of sorts, in boys at about 16 years of age. This is when they seem to begin to look comfortable and 'suitable' in their Sunday attire. Its about this time that these darlings are old enough to bless the sacrament, that they begin to look like they “fit” in their Sunday attire. This is when I myself can begin thinking about purchasing their first pre-mission suit, hoping against hope that they wont grow too much taller. (This parent always held out hope that they could pack that suit up with all their other mission paraphernalia and use it within its last thread.)
My musing here are due to the gratitude I feel as I watch these young boys grow up in the church.
The point being just how grateful we should be with all the effort expended in doing what's right and going against what comes 'natural' to these young guys. That our darling boys, teenagers, rebel-rousers are suiting up, stepping out, and going the distance with us to church is a remarkable phenomenon if you really think about it. How very, very grateful we should be that a wrinkled shirt is plucked up off the closet floor, where it was left from the week before, and willingly donned for the morning sojourn to church. The oversight of a wrinkle or two is acceptable in my book, 'cause I'm just grateful for their willingness to attend and for the lack of arguments put up for going in the first place. Boys CRAVE sleep on Sunday mornings, not spit shines and 3 hours of church!!
So its really not about the clothes, its about the obedience and hope and faith and goodwill that come into play each and every Sunday! Kissing and encouraging that boy who may not have the cleanest fingernails and who may lack a perfect crease in their slack is what I want to be all about!!
TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO....
Great Sabbath to All of You!!!
1 comment:
Amen!
You have a nice way with words and are a joy to read.
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