Why a Lutheran School?
Her family came forward – each one in turn. The sons and daughters, their spouses, the sisters and brothers, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren gathered at the head of the bed – to offer words of comfort, words of encouragement, words of love. She managed a faint smile as the granddaughter was placed on her lap for a kiss. The treatment would begin soon – the treatment that held the hope of a cure – freedom from the pain that attacked her body – freedom from the bonds of the disease that threatened her very life.
The room grew quiet as her husband leaned next to her head, his ear close to her mouth to hear every word. He moved his mouth to her ear and whispered – words only the two would hear – words to be shared between husband and wife. The gathered family strained to listen. Soon a chuckle was heard – they were laughing. The laughter seemed out of place for such a solemn moment – yet it grew stronger. Soon the couple laughed louder – tears of joy flowed from their eyes.
Abruptly the laughter stopped. The quiet roared in contrast to the happy laughter. The family tensed – what would be next?
A small, weak voice was heard – humming. Soon the voice gained strength. Words were added to the familiar tune. She was singing, her eyes closed in memories long past, her face glowing.
“What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit; oh, what needless pain we bear –
All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge – take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.”
And so she found a solace in His arms as He carried her Home. Gone was the pain, gone was the suffering, gone was the hurt, gone were the trials.
Forty years after she knelt at the Confirmation altar, the words of the hymn that she learned in the Lutheran school brought her comfort – brought her peace. She was able to sing them with gusto. Her parents brought her to the baptismal fountain to receive the Holy Spirit, her Lutheran school teachers helped her parents open to her the Bible and hymnal, and the Holy Spirit blessed her.
The Lutheran school trains children for this life – but more importantly for the next. Her Lutheran school training gave her the foundation to live her life as an example of a dedicated Christian woman. Her openness of faith gave her family comfort as she parted – she is in heaven – walking with Jesus.
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6
The room grew quiet as her husband leaned next to her head, his ear close to her mouth to hear every word. He moved his mouth to her ear and whispered – words only the two would hear – words to be shared between husband and wife. The gathered family strained to listen. Soon a chuckle was heard – they were laughing. The laughter seemed out of place for such a solemn moment – yet it grew stronger. Soon the couple laughed louder – tears of joy flowed from their eyes.
Abruptly the laughter stopped. The quiet roared in contrast to the happy laughter. The family tensed – what would be next?
A small, weak voice was heard – humming. Soon the voice gained strength. Words were added to the familiar tune. She was singing, her eyes closed in memories long past, her face glowing.
“What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit; oh, what needless pain we bear –
All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge – take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.”
And so she found a solace in His arms as He carried her Home. Gone was the pain, gone was the suffering, gone was the hurt, gone were the trials.
Forty years after she knelt at the Confirmation altar, the words of the hymn that she learned in the Lutheran school brought her comfort – brought her peace. She was able to sing them with gusto. Her parents brought her to the baptismal fountain to receive the Holy Spirit, her Lutheran school teachers helped her parents open to her the Bible and hymnal, and the Holy Spirit blessed her.
The Lutheran school trains children for this life – but more importantly for the next. Her Lutheran school training gave her the foundation to live her life as an example of a dedicated Christian woman. Her openness of faith gave her family comfort as she parted – she is in heaven – walking with Jesus.
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6