Yesterday while exploring a local craft fair I came upon a lady selling T-shirts she creates. The words, “Take the Road less Traveled” were printed above a little vintage truck. But underneath the truck was the reference, Matthew 7:13. I knew The Road Less Traveled was a Robert Frost poem so I asked the lady, “What’s the verse?” She gave me the gist of it. I immediately understood why she had chosen to use the poem and verse together.

Matthew 7:13,14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” 

It made perfect sense to tie the poem and the verses together. The person in Robert Frost’s poem had a choice. One way had undergrowth, entanglements, yet it was the way taken most often. Here the less traveled road was grassy with little wear. I”d say much like green pastures. It was a beautiful fall day there in the yellow wood, but he had to make a choice. He knew his choice would affect his future because we don’t usually get a chance at “do-overs”. Frost implies one way leads to another and then another and we tend not to retrace our steps.

Frost is the classic American poet. His work is timeless. It’s easy to see Biblical truths in his simple nature poems. As we attempt to teach our children Biblical truths it makes sense to tie them into their daily studies, their daily lives, their hopes and dreams. When we try to pigeon hole math, science, literature and Bible into their own little times of the day, we may fail to help children make connections with their daily lives. Their studies simply become subjects to memorize for the test.

Now is a good time to walk through a yellow wood and take a hike where trails divide. Why take one over the other? Robert Frost wrote many nature poems that our children will enjoy participating in. The Pasture invites us to come along. The Woodpile has a mystery to solve. The real mystery is how these and other studies apply to our daily lives.

Won’t you share how you instill Biblical truths in meaningful ways with your children?