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Laugh Lines

From Kindergarten to Convertibles

By Judi Braddy

The square, bent-edged photo captures me in the driveway of our small 1950s frame house in Wichita, Kansas. I am wearing too-short bangs, a too-long dress, and white ankle socks, and am clutching my new school binder. First-day-of-school excitement and apprehension give me a goofy expression—as if the bangs and ankle socks weren’t enough. What could my mother have been thinking?

Fast forward. I gaze through the 1970s-style picture window framed by orange drapes, a toddler at my side and baby on my hip. My oldest, balancing a backpack three-fourths his size, marches bravely toward the big yellow bus. He’s eager for kindergarten. I’m not. As the bus pulls away, his face presses against the window, bearing that reminiscent goofy look. I should have kept him back a year. What could I have been thinking?

Life, it seems, is a continuous cycle of learning. From the “book learnin’,” as Grandma called it, through the plethora of practicalities gleaned from awful but adjustable errors in judgment—like too-short bangs, white socks and orange drapes! Hard lessons come as well, swirling like dry leaves on a September breeze, some tinged with frosty regret. Would another year of maturity have helped my eldest son make better choices later in life?

Some things we’ll never know. We must learn life’s most important lesson—to trust the all-knowing One. In God’s great textbook, Professor Solomon illustrates this lesson: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

So the cycle of learning continues. That baby on my hip in the 70s is now bound for college. As we wave him out of the driveway en route to our Midwestern alma mater, my tears begin to flow. Life and learning seem to have come full circle. But that’s not why I’m crying. He is driving my red convertible. Lord, what could I have been thinking?

Reprinted from September/October 2003 issue of Woman’s Touch.

JUDI BRADDY is a writer, motivational speaker, licensed minister, pastor’s wife, mom and (very young) grandma. The author of four books--Prodigal in the Parsonage; It All Comes Out in the Wash; True North, and Simple Seasons--Judi has lived through scads of seasons and turned over a number of new leaves.  Basically she and King Solomon have come to the same conclusion—there is a time and season for everything.  Judi and husband, Jim, live in Elk Grove, California. For more information about her writing and speaking, visit her witty website at www.judibraddy.com.