Our middle son just graduated elementary school. Whether we are watching high schoolers go to college, sitting at weddings, experiencing the birth of grandchildren or nieces and nephews, or witnessing our own milestones, many of us are going through ceremonies and additionally, reflection.
The lyrics of Fiddler on the Roof’s “Sunrise Sunset” pulls on our hearts:
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don’t remember growing older
When did they?
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn’t it yesterday that they were small?
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as they gaze
While we may not be able to pinpoint exactly when our children grew older, we can take this moment to remind ourselves that mensches develop when we choose to instill particular values. And that development is one that continues no matter our age. Micah 6:8 reads, “You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what God requires of you: Only to do justice, and to love goodness, and to walk modestly with your God.”
According to the prophet, seedlings have a better chance to turn into sunflowers when they are taught how to be courageous, speak out when needed, be a messenger of loving-kindness and ultimately, sow seeds of faith.
As we transition from and to major milestones—for ourselves and for our children, let us not forget the human beings we hope to become and the human beings we are trying to raise. God expects much from creation; may we expect the same from ourselves.
And perhaps, even a little more.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Nicole Guzik is senior rabbi at Sinai Temple. She can be reached at her Facebook page at Rabbi Nicole Guzik or on Instagram @rabbiguzik. For more writings, visit Rabbi Guzik’s blog section from Sinai Temple’s website.
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