Measuring Marigolds

Well, this one is measuring raspberries, because I couldn’t find a graphic showing an inchworm measuring marigolds. If inchworms and marigolds don’t go together in your mind, you didn’t spend a few years listening to Captain Kangaroo.

It was a morning television show for children from 1955 through 1984, covering my late teens through my children’s early teens. I heard the inchworm song a lot!!

Two and two are four
Four and four are eight
Eight and eight are sixteen
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigold

What brought that to mind was a couple of snowbound parents admitting they know all the lyrics to Veggie Tale songs. A word here (such as inchworm) or there (such as marigolds) triggers a tune in our minds. Another blogger brought to mind an itsy bitsy spider (and had much better luck at graphics!!

What we teach our children resonates in our own minds as well as theirs. What do you want in your mind for the rest of your life, and the rest of theirs? I could simply say,”There are no children in my home. The question is not for me.” I would be wrong. There are many children in my life.

I don’t see children every day, but absolutely do for several days out of the week. What I teach them is important to both of us. And, I’ve been given instructions.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7 KJV)

Singing is an excellent method of teaching. Moses knew this, as did Deborah, David and others:

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, (Exodus 15:1 KJV)

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. (Judges 5:3 KJV)

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. (1 Chronicles 16:8-9 KJV)

This doesn’t apply to you? Go ahead, think of church and your childhood. What did you sing in church? Now, try to get that out of your head. Ask your child if they know that song.