Although our home educating days have been filled with both the light bulb moments and the dark days of wondering if we are “accomplishing” anything, I have been pondering the “capturing the educational moment” question posed by Spunky for a contest she and the Acadmic Superstore are hosting. 

     My conclusion today is that it is not so much when the children grasp a new concept; it is when I do. 

     I don’t mean solely capturing those academic sparks that ignite in our brains. Which, by the way ignite in the minds of many a homeschooling mother while she teaches her kids.  No, my personal education is not the only fringe benefit of home education.  It is that moment when I realize that absolute truth is being made known, and the innate reality comes shining through.  It is this very thing that seems to be obscured by the multitude of expert opinions; in spite of popular belief that children need to be cajoled, proded, herded, bribed, sequestered, compared and examined in order to be "educated," on the contrary, kids were created to learn and grow. 

 Hence, this is THE concept, which must be grasped and held onto with all your might.

      It is necessary and quite easy to get past the opinon that it takes a professional to do the job that families have been doing quite well, thank you, for centuries.  What is sometimes not as easy to get past is our own insecurities.  That is the ultimate educational moment.  Why do I continually think it is up to me?  It is not.  When I realize that in my ignorance and incapability (that I may feel, but not necessarily embody) that my energetic little creations, sponges as they are, will not only glean from everything they are exposed to but that they have what it takes within themselves to “get it.” 

     When I “get it” is when I stop worrying long enough about the externals, and start recognizing the internally magnificent workings of my children; their personalities, innate abilities and future capabilities.  All those things that were put there when they were being formed, knit together so beautifully in my womb by their Creator.

     By the spirit of God were they made, and by the spirit of God will they thrive, live, learn and glorify Him forever.

     Before I had children, my personal educational moment was the day I realized that I was created, and my life was not an accident.  I never believed I was, although some confused people would try to convince me of that. But I too was confused about my existence; not whether I should exist, but for what purpose I did. When providence would have me go to the one who made me, He cleared up all confusion. 

     “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.  My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth, Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.   Psalm 139: 13-16 NASV

     (Read the entire psalm and compare it with Deuteronomy 6: 6-10 which is a favorite verse of Christian Homeschoolers. You will find some interesting correlations.)

     Back to Psalm 139.  In verses 3, and 4, the word “comprehend” in Hebrew, according to the notes in my Bible, means “to sift or winnow.”  God sorts out both our words and thoughts, knowing what is wheat and what is chaff.  He understands that sometimes we are not thinking clearly about what is true, and it is He who gives us a renewed mind, The Mind Of Christ, so that we are not tossed to and fro by the winds of the world.

     Each day is filled with those educational  moments.  All you have to do is be there, and you will see them.  Just as there are as too many grains of sand or stars in the sky, and more thoughts of us from God…..there are too many “aha” moments each and every day that we are alive.  We just have to realize that it is not up to us for them to happen!

 We just have to be here to experience them.

Nancy

(This is my entry to win a camera in the "Capture the Educational Moment" Contest sponsored by Spunky and Academic Superstore.)

 Just for fun, I captured some actual moments with my old, in desperate need of an upgrade, camera and posted  some more thoughts over at my photo blog.  Be sure to stop by and see!

©Nancy K. Baetz

 Homeschooling Is Life! 2006