The Prized Treasures

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  “Will the prized treasures of today always be the cheap trifles of the day before? Will rows of our willow-pattern dinner-plates be ranged above the chimneypieces of the great in the years 2000 and odd? Will the white cups with the gold rim and the beautiful gold flower inside (species unknown), that our Sarah Janes now break in sheer light-heartedness of spirit, be carefully mended, and stood upon a bracket, and dusted only by the lady of the house? . . . .   The “sampler” that the eldest daughter did at school will be spoken of as “tapestry of the Victorian era,” and be almost priceless. The blue-and-white mugs of the present-day roadside inn will be hunted up, all cracked and chipped, and sold for their weight in gold, and rich people will use them for claret cups; and travellers from Japan will buy up all the “Presents from Ramsgate,” and “Souvenirs of Margate,” that may have escaped destruction, and take them back to Jedo as ancient English curios.” Jerome K. Jerome, “T...

Getting a Complete Education

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Adapted from "To Be Educated" by Carolyn C.

If I learn my ABCs, can read 600 words per minute,
and can write with perfect penmanship,
But have not learned how to communicate with the
Designer of all language,
My education is not complete.

If I have memorized addition facts,
multiplication tables, and chemical formulas,
But have never disciplined myself to hide God's Word
in my heart,
My education is not complete.

If I can classify animals by their family, genus,
and species and can write a lengthy scientific paper
that wins an award,
But have not been introduced to the
Maker's purpose for all creation,
My education is not complete.

If I can recite the Gettysburg Address and the
Preamble to the Constitution,
But have not been informed of the hand of God in the
history of our country,
My education is not complete.

If I can play the piano, the violin,
six other instruments,
and can write music that moves men to tears,
But have not learned to listen to the Director
of the universe and worship Him,
My education is not complete.

If I can run cross-country races,
star in basketball,
and do 100 push-ups without stopping,
But have never bent my will to do God's will,
My education is not complete.

However, if one day I see the world as God sees it
and come to know Him Whom to know is life eternal,
and glorify God by fulfilling His purpose for me,
Then, my education is complete!

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