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(taken from Daily Focus -- a devotional for homeschoolers by homeschoolers)
Totally Lost
Tuesday / October 06, 2009
Some days, even the best homeschool teacher has trouble communicating a lesson. Whether you're teaching equations in algebra or diagramming sentences in grammar, a change begins to occur in your child when he does not comprehend the information you are covering. You've seen the look — a blank stare, a squint, eyebrows up in the form of a question mark. The body begins to fidget and unintelligible utterances come from his mouth. He doesn't have a clue what you are talking about and is totally lost. What are you going to do?
When I was new to homeschooling, I walked away in frustration or assumed my child was not paying attention. I tried repeating the same information or using a louder voice. With infinite variations, the battle went on until I realized the problem was not with my child; it was with me. I was the teacher, and I had failed to teach. I needed to try again and approach the information from a different angle — a new learning style or additional visual aids.
Thankfully, God doesn't lose His temper or walk away from us when teaching life's lessons. When we begin our fussing routine or get that lost look, He gently wraps His arms around us and takes us back to where we last understood. Lovingly, He leads us to godly counsel from Christian friends or words of wisdom from the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit customizes each particular lesson until we grow "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
I received this timely devotional this afternoon. It just so happens that this very thing happened to me today. And although I'm not new to homeschooling, as we were trying to solve for an unknown with the attitive inverse in pre-algebra today, I assumed Morgan was not paying attention as I tried to repeat the information for her over and over again -- eventually in a louder and louder voice. Finally I did walk away in frustration and ended pre-algebra for the day, deciding to just try again tomorrow. Yes, I failed her today. In the end I let my temper get the best of me, not seeing that I wasn't getting the information across to her in a way she could understand it. I'm sorry, Morgan! Tomorrow I will try it again, but this time I will remember to gently wrap my arms around her and take her back to where she last understood, just as the Lord has done with me many times in the past and continues to do so every day. Even though I know it to be true, I am always in awe by the fact that God knows and gives us exactly what we need at the exact time we need it. Thank you Lord!
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Posted by Morgan