My good friend and brother-in-Christ Mat Parker recently shared with me an excellent video, located here.  I was showing it to Marria and Asher last night.  In one part, Mr. Wooden quotes a poem by Glennice Harmon "They Ask Me Why I Teach."  It goes like this:

They ask me why I teach
And I reply, "Where could I find more splendid company?"
There sits a statesman,
Strong, unbiased, wise,
Another later Webster
Silver-tongued.
And there a doctor
Whose quick, steady hand
Can mend a bone or stem the lifeblood's flow.
A builder sits beside him --
Upward rise the arches of that church he builds wherein
That minister will speak the word of God,
And lead a stumbling soul to touch the Christ.

And all about
A lesser gathering
Of farmers, merchants, teachers,
Laborers, men
Who work and vote and build
And plan and pray into a great tomorrow.
And, I say,
"I may not see the church,
Or hear the word,
Or eat the food their hands will grow."
And yet -- I may.
And later I may say,
"I knew the lad, and he was strong,
Or weak, or kind, or proud
Or bold or gay.
I knew him once,
But then he was a boy."
They ask my why I teach and I reply,
"Where could I find more splendid company?"

Marria made the comment that we should give it to Asher's teacher, Ms. Lovelace.  Without hesitation, Asher replied matter-of-factly, "but she is not in such splendid company."  I was and am astounded at the comprehension of my 9-year-old.  For Asher to pick up on the theme of the poem and apply it in its correct context, and at the same time make a little joke about his classmates indicates that the Big Boo is growing up quite fast!