At my request, my son David periodically checks on this site and gives me suggestions and pointers. So far, he has made some excellent suggestions about the look and programming. He began using a computer in 1986, when he was three. He would sit on my lap playing games on what was then a cutting-edge monitor that displayed only four flat colors.

Thanks to Rebecca's influence, we were on the Internet almost early on, almost 12 years ago, which means David has been using it for half of his life. When he was in sixth grade and being home-schooled by me he built my then new PC under Rebecca's tutelage. He is quite savvy.

David writes well. He has his own “voice” as a writer, which has matured over time. He can say things well.

While David was home schooled, from fourth through seventh grade, if I felt that he had hurried through a written assignment without giving it even his second best effort, I would hand the paper back to him, saying, “You can do better.”

That was one thing he never once debated with me, and David loves to debate. He was even on the high school debate team. What he likes to debate best is theology. His ideas and insights amaze me, and they have impressed clergy from when he was a lad, too.

Around noon today David telephoned to inquire if I'd received his email. Email? Several years ago he emailed me. Usually, we talk or IM.

My son informed me that he'd sent a revision of my lead paragraph of last week's blog. He felt his version better expressed what I wanted to convey. Hmmm…

At first I was flattered and pleased that he would take his time to do this but I was unsure. I immediately began praying for guidance, asking G-D what to say to my son as I did not want to hurt his feelings or curb his enthusiasm. I prayed my way through much of his childhood.

David remained on the phone waiting for me to read his revisions.

I skimmed the email. Then I reread it.

David is correct. He said what I wanted to express better than I had, plus his theology was more encompassing and wiser. I am proud and pleased. Truth is something we can give away without ever depleting our portion.

With David's permission, I am sharing his version with you:

“The theology of the Peoples of the Book (Jews, Christians, and Muslims) is that when the Creator speaks it is the positive energy from those words that define thus creating a world of substance our world. We learn this in the first five books of the Bible known as Torah which are written by the hand of G-d on Mount Sinai . The deeper meaning is that it is in Hebrew that G-d writes and therefore also speaks (G-d spoke but, as time is not part of the spiritual universe all of the actions of G-d are everlasting). Additionally, we learn that when G-d spoke and created the world G-d did so in Hebrew and it is those letters that make up the words that define (or are) the essential building blocks of the universe.”

The above is true in both Christian and Jewish theology for all denominations and branches. It is something we all absolutely agree on. I think that the Muslims pretty much adhere to this, also. I learned about the Muslims this watching the wonderful series on Genesis that Bill Moyer did for PBS, which is available at my local library..

UnGraven Image uses the Hebrew letters from the very words of G-d (in the Bible) for every stroke in a painting. The actual subject of each painting is the text(s) used and the reality, or image that the letters of the text evokes through the strokes (letters). It's G-d's words in paint that actually make up the substance of the “world” of each painting.

As a parent, I enjoy my son's accomplishments, delight when his knowledge challenges or informs and especially when his surpasses mine. I raised him with the expectation that he would surpass me in many ways eventually.

Being a parent made me very aware of how the Lord was "raising" me – and still is. I wonder what all is expected of me eventually.

February 28, 2006