Life is Learning

Can you say eventful week?  What I love about Katie being a homeschooler is that I can use every moment to teach her regardless of our location.  Sure we have a classroom curriculum but life is one of the best teachers.  Life is constantly changing and we are running alongside trying to keep a good speed.  Ministry is a good way to teach your child to love and serve one another.  This is a good task as long as your children are involved and not tossed to the side.  We have some precious friends who are struggling a little in their marriage...so Katie and I discussed the day we visited what our tasks were to be upon arrival.  She was to round up the children and take care of them, love on them, and play with them while Mom loved on the female and Dad did whatever males do with the male. :)  I explained to her that the bible says to "Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep." Romans 12:15   Of course Katie's middle name should have been love so she was on the task!   She did well for her age.  She at least kept the older one with the best comprehension pretty busy while enjoying some play time.

Days ago, our grandfather (Katie's great grandfather) had triple bypass heart surgery.  So we loaded up our curriculum and had school in the pre-op waiting area.  Once the surgery was complete, we moved up to heart floor where he was recovering.  Katie was ready to see him but one of our family members announced that the hospital did not allow children in the room after heart surgery.  The reasoning is to guard the children from "trauma" because of the patients condition with tubes...etc.  This was saddening to me for more than one reason.  The first reason was because Katie was concerned and had been praying for him, and sincerely wanted to see him.  The second reason is that it stole an opportunity from Katie to be a part of ministering to a sick family member.  The third reason (I could go on for days) is the opportunity she missed to cherish each breath we take.  It seems as if most kids are sheltered from the wrong things.  How will children ever know to cherish life if they never encounter the ups and downs?  How will children ever learn coping skills if we guard them from all pain?  Reality eventually is unavoidable for children.  I remember Katie's first funeral was a person she loved (she loves everybody!) who was a distant friend to our family. He was a wonderful christian man so none of us truly doubted where he would spend eternity.  So there was weeping and rejoicing!  It was at that funeral that she connected life, death, and heaven.  She wept with those who wept, and rejoiced when they rejoiced.  How can we keep our children from these life experiences and label it as "trauma"?   "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6  If instead it said, "delay the child's training until they are old enough to cope, and when they are old, they won't depart from it" well, then I would have to agree with the hospital!  "For the Word of God is alive and powerful."  Hebrews 4:12  Start now by cultivating a heart of thankfulness and compassion!  Teach them  to fear God and of God's judgments (Joel 1:3 Exodus 10:2) but at the same time His incredible love, forgiveness, and compassion (Psalms 103:13).  I am sure a lot of parents guard their child from pain with the greatest intentions, but sometimes our greatest intentions become the ruin of our children.  

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  Romans 12:2     

Miss Katie and some friends!