FOSTER CARE 20 AUGUST 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition August has a rhythm all its own. It signals the slow fade of summer, with the end of long pool days, late sunsets and impromptu adventures. As a kid, I remember dreading that shift. I never wanted summer to end. I wanted it to go on forever. But looking back, I realize that even when school was out, learning didn’t stop, it just changed form. And maybe, just maybe, some of the best lessons I’ve ever learned happened outside the classroom — when I wasn’t even aware I was learning. The summer I became a turtle trapper I was probably nine or ten, full of curiosity and with way too much free time. That summer, I set my sights on an unconventional hobby: catching turtles. The idea came to me after cutting the itchy netting out of my swim trunks. I stitched the lining into a homemade net, tied it with fishing string and baited it like a trap… pretty innovative, I know! I’d climb this big tree that leaned over the edge of a pond, dangle the trap into the water and wait. Eventually, I’d see movement — ripples in the water — and sure enough, a turtle would swim right into my trap. I’d pull it up, carefully carry it home, and plop it in a little tank like it was some sort of trophy. Looking back, I can’t believe it worked! But in that simple summer pastime, I was learning by doing; I was testing ideas, solving problems, adapting when things didn’t go to plan. And I loved it. That summer taught me something I didn’t realize at the time: learning is everywhere if your eyes are open. The invitation to keep growing There’s a verse in Proverbs 9:9 that says, “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” That line has stuck with me. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t stop when school ends or when you graduate or when you reach a certain age. The truly wise never stop learning. Some of the most impactful teachers I’ve ever had weren’t the ones who acted like they knew everything. They were the ones who showed us they were still learning too. They didn’t teach from a pedestal, instead they invited us to grow alongside them. It was that posture of humility that made their teaching unforgettable. Lead like a learner If you’re in a role of leadership, mentorship or parenting, let me encourage you: stay in the learner’s seat. You don’t have to have it all figured out. In fact, the younger generation isn’t expecting perfection. What they really respect is authenticity — leaders who model teachability, who admit when they don’t know something, who stay curious and open. That kind of leadership is magnetic. It invites connection. It cultivates growth. And it shows people that learning is not just a season; it’s a lifestyle. A new season, a fresh posture As August ushers in a new school year, we want to bless our teachers, administrators, parents and every person stepping into classrooms across the country. You are planting seeds that will bear fruit for generations to come. May this year be full of joy, peace, safety and new discoveries. And for all of us, whether we’re in school or not, may this season be a reminder: we were made to learn. We were created to grow. That doesn’t mean we always need to have our heads in a book, but it does mean we should walk through life with open hearts, ready to receive. Let’s never stop learning Learning doesn’t belong to the young. It belongs to the humble. And the good news? God invites us all into that posture. So let’s read. Let’s ask good questions. Let’s listen deeply. Let’s try new things, even if we fail at first. Let’s be curious about what God might teach us next, whether it’s through our kids, through a sermon, through nature, or even through turtles in a summer pond. Because when we embrace the heart of a learner, we step into the fullness of what it means to grow — not just smarter, but wiser. Since September 2024, Andrew Holmes has been serving as the President of 4KIDS--a ministry that provides Hope, Homes, and Healing to kids and families in crisis. Learn more and catch the vision of a home for every child at 4KIDS.us. Never Stop Learning - Andrew Holmes - 4KIDS President
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