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“Elder”garten


  Most folks go to school for the first time around age 5. Some may start earlier, some a little later but no one started as late as Kimani Maruge. 

  Kimani was a Kenyan whose childhood was interrupted by war. He had grown up as a soldier and survived. Many years later, the Kenyan government wanted to improve the nation's abysmal literacy rate, only 75-80% of adults could read. So, they announced that all children would be entitled to a free primary school education. The law, however, did not set an age limit for enrollment.

  So, at age 84, Margue went to kindergarten. He didn’t do it alone, two of his grandchildren enrolled as well. His act was rebuffed at first but he became not only a great student but a great role model for the students.


  Why was he willing to do this? He told reporters, “I wanted to learn to read the Bible and to count.” His bravery inspired other elderly to do the same. One ninety-year-old named Priscilla Sitenei went back to school for the same reason, “to learn to read the Bible”. 

  This story is an inspiring one but it should also shame us as well. People willing, even in their old age, to humble themselves for the opportunity to read the Bible. We don’t have that issue for the most part. We CAN read it. We have an abundance of Bibles. We have the opportunity and ease to do so. Yet our Bibles gather dust on the shelf.

 "and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
2nd Timothy 3:15  

  Often, we don’t know what we have unless we experience what we don’t when we have not. Let’s appreciate the access we have to the Word of God. More than appreciate it, let’s take full advantage of it!


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