The Teacher: Lesson Three...Have godly confidence
For those of you new to Charlotte Mason or who have never heard of her, you may want to take some time to read through her writings. You can utilize amblesideonline.org to find her writings on home education, habit training, and many other useful resources.
Here's what she says about having confidence as your child's teacher, "Parents should trust themselves more. Everything is not done by restless endeavour. The mere blessed fact of the parental relationship and of that authority which belongs to it, by right and by nature, acts upon the children as do sunshine and shower on a seed in good soil. But the fussy parent, the anxious parent, the parent who explains overmuch, who commands overmuch, who excuses overmuch, who restrains overmuch, who interferes overmuch, even the parent who is with the children overmuch, does away with dignity and simplicity of that relationship which, like all the best and most delicate things in life, suffer by being asserted or defended."
And, "That highest form of confidence, known to us as faith, is necessary to full repose of mind and manner. When we recognise that God does not make over the bringing up of children absolutely even to their parents, but that He works Himself, in ways which it must be our care not to hinder, in the training of every child, then we shall learn passiveness, humble and wise. We shall give children space to develop on the lines of their own characters in all right ways, and shall know how to intervene effectually to prevent those errors which, also, are proper to their individual characters."
Like me, perhaps you find yourself in that description, "the fussy parent, the anxious parent, the parent who explains overmuch...." I lack confidence in God to do the work. I lack confidence that He'll give me all I need to be the parent my children need. I live in the land of Eeyore many days. Ever sound like this when you think of parenting or homeschooling?:
"Good morning, Pooh Bear," said Eeyore gloomily.
"If it is a good morning," he said.
"Which I doubt," said he.
"Why, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, Pooh Bear, nothing. We can't all, and some of us don't. That's all there is to it." "Can't all what?" said Pooh, rubbing his nose. "Gaiety. Song-and-dance. Here we go round the mulberry bush."
Ever feel like all the other moms are out there having their gaiety, song and dance, here we go round the mulberry bush homeschool days, while you're battling to get through the basics and put food on the table? Well first of all, IT'S NOT TRUE! You aren't alone in your battle for joyful, confident homeschooling or joyful parenting. All moms have their hard days...many, in fact.
I was recently explaining to my eldest the idea that God had to command his children to do right because they definitely were not inclined to do right on their own. He knew what needed to be taught to his weak and sinful people. God has to tell us to rejoice in all things...because we're not inclined to do so. He has to tell us to "fear not" because we're inclined TO fear. We're not inclined to do right, but wrong, We're not inclined to be joyful, but discontent. We're not inclined to be confident, but fearful. Nobody is an exception to this rule. That would prove the Bible untrue. People, Christians, who appear to have joy and confidence, are battling just like you... Perhaps they are further along in their battle. Perhaps they have learned ultimate lessons through very difficult personal circumstances. But the truth is, nobody is just naturally good at being joyful and confident. It is an uphill battle, but a worthy one. God calls us to it. God helps us in it. God ultimately will win it for us...on the day of Jesus Christ.
So...and that's an "I've been on a rabbit-trail and it's time to get back to the point of this post" so... Tomorrow morning, take confidence in your God-given task to parent, to train. He is the greatest Teacher EV-ER. He'll show you how. He'll give you ideas. He'll give you skill. He'll give you discernment. In His time. Keep asking. Keep plodding. Keep believing His promises. "He who calls you is faithful; HE WILL SURELY DO IT." I Thess. 3:24
Here's what she says about having confidence as your child's teacher, "Parents should trust themselves more. Everything is not done by restless endeavour. The mere blessed fact of the parental relationship and of that authority which belongs to it, by right and by nature, acts upon the children as do sunshine and shower on a seed in good soil. But the fussy parent, the anxious parent, the parent who explains overmuch, who commands overmuch, who excuses overmuch, who restrains overmuch, who interferes overmuch, even the parent who is with the children overmuch, does away with dignity and simplicity of that relationship which, like all the best and most delicate things in life, suffer by being asserted or defended."
And, "That highest form of confidence, known to us as faith, is necessary to full repose of mind and manner. When we recognise that God does not make over the bringing up of children absolutely even to their parents, but that He works Himself, in ways which it must be our care not to hinder, in the training of every child, then we shall learn passiveness, humble and wise. We shall give children space to develop on the lines of their own characters in all right ways, and shall know how to intervene effectually to prevent those errors which, also, are proper to their individual characters."
Like me, perhaps you find yourself in that description, "the fussy parent, the anxious parent, the parent who explains overmuch...." I lack confidence in God to do the work. I lack confidence that He'll give me all I need to be the parent my children need. I live in the land of Eeyore many days. Ever sound like this when you think of parenting or homeschooling?:
"Good morning, Pooh Bear," said Eeyore gloomily.
"If it is a good morning," he said.
"Which I doubt," said he.
"Why, what's the matter?"
Ever feel like all the other moms are out there having their gaiety, song and dance, here we go round the mulberry bush homeschool days, while you're battling to get through the basics and put food on the table? Well first of all, IT'S NOT TRUE! You aren't alone in your battle for joyful, confident homeschooling or joyful parenting. All moms have their hard days...many, in fact.
I was recently explaining to my eldest the idea that God had to command his children to do right because they definitely were not inclined to do right on their own. He knew what needed to be taught to his weak and sinful people. God has to tell us to rejoice in all things...because we're not inclined to do so. He has to tell us to "fear not" because we're inclined TO fear. We're not inclined to do right, but wrong, We're not inclined to be joyful, but discontent. We're not inclined to be confident, but fearful. Nobody is an exception to this rule. That would prove the Bible untrue. People, Christians, who appear to have joy and confidence, are battling just like you... Perhaps they are further along in their battle. Perhaps they have learned ultimate lessons through very difficult personal circumstances. But the truth is, nobody is just naturally good at being joyful and confident. It is an uphill battle, but a worthy one. God calls us to it. God helps us in it. God ultimately will win it for us...on the day of Jesus Christ.
So...and that's an "I've been on a rabbit-trail and it's time to get back to the point of this post" so... Tomorrow morning, take confidence in your God-given task to parent, to train. He is the greatest Teacher EV-ER. He'll show you how. He'll give you ideas. He'll give you skill. He'll give you discernment. In His time. Keep asking. Keep plodding. Keep believing His promises. "He who calls you is faithful; HE WILL SURELY DO IT." I Thess. 3:24
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