The mother's heart is the child's classroom- Henry W. Beecher

This is a make believe passport from a church project in 1985...what do you think?  I found it in my Rademaker family archives the other day and it reminds me of two things: one, time goes by way too fast (but everybody over 40 knows that) and two, the heart of the child is the most important part to nurture.  I can't recall focusing on that as a young mom.  I became a grandmother before I trully understood the importance of  it, as expressed to me by the beautiful mother that this little girl grew up to be.  What I do recall when I look at this picture is a very petite little girl who loved playing school, going to school, and talking about school.  She was every Sunday School and Pre-school teacher's dream student.  At play, her baby dolls were tossed into their cradles as she dressed up in my t-shirts, belted her waist, and stumbled to "work" in my heels, as a teacher.  Well, today she is a teacher...a homeschool teacher with two students, a son in kindergarten and the other one a preschooler.  She has the nurturing of their hearts "down pat" and their little brother is  her favorite textbook for teaching the subjects of compassion and patience.

But, back to the picture.  Here's the thing: I thought I was seeing the makings of a scholar with a love for learning that wouldn't quit, and I was.  But deep in her heart, where no one could really see or predict, a plan was being placed by a power greater than all of us.  Her real live babies are anything but tossed aside, they are the center of her life, and she doesn't wear heels to the classroom either.  I saw a glimpse, but He saw the whole magnificent picture!