Children arriving at school
I was a little surprised when my first granddaughter was only eighteen months old and her parents enrolled her in a nursery school. I thought she was still too young to begin formal learning. Nevertheless, it marked the beginning of an exciting journey of discovery. There she would learn to play, share, communicate, and interact with other children her age. Watching her take those first small steps into the world brought back memories of my own childhood many years ago.
I was six years old when I attended a small kindergarten near the Kallang Basin kampong where I lived. Those mornings have become somewhat hazy with the passing of time. I still remember carrying a school bag that always seemed much too big for my small frame as I walked to school each day. Strangely enough, I cannot remember many of the lessons I was taught in the classroom. The songs we sang, the worksheets we completed, and even the daily routines have largely faded from my memory.
Yet those years were far more significant than I realised at the time.
What seemed like ordinary childhood experiences were quietly laying the foundation for the rest of my life. School was much more than a place to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic. It was where I learned to respect others, share with my classmates, listen to my teachers, develop good habits, and discover the joy of learning. It was where friendships were formed, curiosity was nurtured, confidence slowly grew, and dreams quietly began to take shape.
Looking back, I can now see God’s loving hand at work long before I recognised it. He blessed me with caring parents who made sacrifices to provide me with an education, dedicated teachers who patiently taught and encouraged me, wise mentors who offered guidance, and faithful friends who walked alongside me through different seasons of life.
Some lessons came from textbooks and classrooms.
Others came through life’s joys and disappointments, successes and failures, friendships and challenges.
In His perfect wisdom, God used every experience, both pleasant and difficult to shape my character, deepen my faith, and prepare me for the person He was calling me to become.
Learning, after all, does not end when we leave school. God continues to teach us throughout every stage of life. Every conversation, every challenge, every opportunity to serve, every disappointment, and every season of waiting becomes another lesson in His classroom. As long as we remain humble and willing to learn, He continues to mould us into the likeness of Christ.
The Bible reminds us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” True wisdom is not measured merely by how much we know, but by how closely we walk with God and faithfully apply His truth in our daily lives.
As we journey through each new day, may we remain humble, curious, and teachable. May we never stop learning from God’s Word, from the people He places in our lives, and from the experiences He lovingly allows us to encounter.
Bible Verse:
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 WEB
Blessings:
God has blessed us by placing people in our lives who patiently taught, corrected, encouraged, and loved us. Through them, He has been quietly growing us in wisdom all along.
Reflection Point:
God often grows our wisdom through the people He places in our lives and the experiences He allows us to walk through. Looking back helps us recognise His patient guidance and faithful care.
Reflection Question:
Who has God used to teach, encourage, or shape my life? How can I express gratitude for their influence, and in what way can I help someone else grow in wisdom today?
Action to Consider for this week:
Take time to thank someone who has made a positive difference in your life—a parent, teacher, mentor, pastor, or friend. Then look for an opportunity to encourage, teach, or patiently guide someone who is still learning.
Hymn for the Reflection
Jesus Loves Me
Hymn Writer
Anna Bartlett Warner (1827–1915) was an American author, poet, and hymn writer. She lived with her older sister, Susan Warner, on Constitution Island in the Hudson River near West Point, New York.
The two sisters were accomplished writers of Christian literature and children’s stories. Together they devoted much of their lives to teaching Bible classes for the cadets at the nearby United States Military Academy at West Point.
Although Anna wrote several hymns and poems, she is best remembered for the simple yet powerful words of “Jesus Loves Me,” which have introduced generations of children—and adults—to the assurance of Christ’s love.
The Story Behind the Hymn
The words of “Jesus Loves Me” were not originally written as a hymn.
In 1860, Anna’s sister, Susan Warner, was writing a novel titled Say and Seal. In one scene, a Sunday school teacher comforts a seriously ill young boy by softly singing words about Jesus’ love.
Anna wrote the poem that appears in that scene, expressing the comforting truth that even a frightened child could understand: Jesus loves me.
The novel became extremely popular, and readers were deeply touched by the poem.
Two years later, composer William B. Bradbury recognised its potential as a congregational song. He wrote the familiar melody and added the now-famous chorus: “Yes, Jesus loves me…”
From that point onward, the hymn spread rapidly throughout churches, Sunday schools, and Christian homes around the world.
Today, it is one of the most translated and widely sung Christian hymns in history.