Mar. 6, 2006 - Perfect Days - A Lesson on Government in History Class
Sometimes weather dictates your mood, energy, and motivation. But then newer days come and God pours out His favor on you. I spent an entire week depressed and fatigued. I was starting to feel worthless. Rain, rain, and more rain in paradise seemed to predict my days.
Well, this was the day of favor ladies. Sunny, warm, and lovely (dad was also home from work today). I felt good, motivated, and inspired to teach with full vigor and diligence. I use the word diligence because I have not been so good at vindicating discipline when needed and all parties seemed to take advantage of mom. Not today. And that's not all.
We started today with an awesome memory verse discussion about "victory" and God gave me the neatest tune so we could learn it by singing. That's was thrilling. I love it when God does that. Then we went about our daily routines of learning and then had lunch. After lunch we have history and I wasn't sure how I was going to teach what I had planned to teach for history...the government of Plymouth...a follow-up lesson from a couple weeks ago on the government of Jamestown. Well, I knew I wanted to use the big RED BOOKS (Principle Approach primary resources...ask me if you want more info on that). So, I turned to the section where it talks about this topic and I knew I wanted to tie it with what we discussed about Jamestown (unjust and dependent). Well, I didn't have much time to read a whole lot since we were on our way to the desks. So, I quickly skimmed one paragraph and these are the words that struck me: Bible-loving, God-fearing, and something else I forgot. Well, a few fast thoughts later I had them copying some short notes on the board for them to copy. This is what God gave me right on the spot (I explained what each meant).
Government
Jamestown v. Plymouth
Money-loving v. Bible-loving
Law of England v. Law of God
I forget this point. Ask me if you are really interested.
Dependent v. Independent
Unjust v. Industrious
The basic idea is that Jamestown colony governed people similarly, rewarding everyone regardless of their own industry. Sounds fair, but loaded with humanism, socialism, liberalism. (This whole point is examined in the Red Books and foundational to Principle Approach philosophy.) On the other hand, Plymouth colony decided that it would be best if everyone work independently to provide for themselves, thus being rewarded for their own industry. This all anwers the question, "who or what is in control? - thinking governmentally." Jamestown-government control; Plymouth-individual control. Principles: Individual self-government produces independent and insdustrious character. God blesses a Christian form of government.
So then, the real challenge was, "what was I going to do to enrich this lesson?" Well, I had been wanting to plant some flowers in the yard and thought this would be the perfect way to be industrious and independent. Upon hearing this idea, my son asked, "Are we from Plymouth?" I said enthusiastically, "YES!!! We don't want to depend on the government to plant a beautiful garden. We're going to put our own work into it and get the blessing of beautiful flowers." Then, a little later, my daughter asked, "This is not history, mom. We're doing science" (reflecting on our botany study). I said excitely, "well, if God created all subjects and all knowledge comes from Him, history is the same as science. It all interrelates." She decided to expand on that and, in a way, reassure herself what she knew to be true. Amazing! What a great lesson and perfect day we had!
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