America's Most Valuable Resource

"Children are our most valuable natural resource." ~ President Herbert Hoover

As we celebrate yet another birthday for our beloved country, my thoughts went to this quote which I discovered quite a few years ago. We even had it as one of our "Speakables" back in the early days. I believe it's one of the most powerful statements I've heard about the value of children. I have other quotes to share, many having to do with their value with regard to  the Kingdom of God, but this particular quotation is focused on the political  realm, which is, of course, most appropriate for today.

Let's think about this for a moment. When something is "natural" it means it's not made by people, it's a part of nature, or in other words, a creation by God apart from human workmanship. "Resources" are items that are useful or have benefit to people. When a country has natural resources, obviously these are things it has by nature; things which are not only useful, but valuable. Geography was never a favorite subject when I was a student or a home teacher, but learning about the natural resources possessed by this or that country was somewhat enjoyable. It somehow seemed to be a way of discovering how God distributed His blessings here and there about the earth.

So you can understand why these words by President Hoover were so profound. As true as they were then, they are no less true today. When we really apply this truth, our children are the requisite factor that will make the determination of what comes next. Wherein  does our hope lie for the future? Laws are being passed, many controversial. Farmers are planting. New inventions are being developed. New weapons and procedures are being formulated for warfare. Health care and insurance is ever changing. We could go on and on. But when it comes to the future of this nation, celebrating birthday number 237, the most valuable resource we have as to where this all will lead is in our children. And may I say further, as important as their education may be, and it is, there is nothing so crucial to the future of America as the spiritual and moral training we implement in the critical years of childhood.

Raise them properly, parents. Influence them well, grandparents. Guide them with sensitivity, teachers at home, school, and church. It's the best thing we can do for our country.

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna