A Verb, not a Noun
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Columnist Host
MaryAnn Gaver |
Remember learning about verbs? You discovered that they were the most important words in a sentence, the doers.
Look at baseball. Wouldn’t baseball be dull without all that throwing, catching, hitting, and sliding? And look at our faith. We're told to believe, watch, pray, worship, and sing. We're encouraged to offer hospitality, endure trials, show kindness, and so on.
Share Your Tips
This new column is designed to feature teaching tips, encouragement, and advice from homeschooling parents.
Our topic for the Mar./Apr. 2008 issue is “getting your kids to think.” How do you encourage them to go beyond the obvious? Send us a brief description (150 words or less). Submissions may be edited for space. Mail submissions to:
Attn: Parent to Parent, HSLDA
P.O. Box 3000
Purcellville, VA 20134
Or email us (include “Parent to Parent” in the subject line) at ComDept@hslda.org
Please include your name and address. Submission deadline is January 14, 2008.
“Love” can be an action word, too, both in your homeschool and outside your home.
How can you exhibit love in your homeschool? Is someone discouraged? Express your love in words or with hugs. Is someone sick? Siblings can help cheer up the sick one with a cool drink and a handwritten note.
The boys and I wanted to serve people who were lonely in our community, so we started going to a nursing home to talk or read poetry with residents. Beginners on the guitar and violin, the boys also shared their first songs. The residents appreciated it so much. Our little group has now grown to almost 20 budding musicians who play hymns, sing, or just visit people.
You don’t need to have any specific talent when it comes to love. Personally, I can’t carry a tune or play an instrument beyond a very basic level. But I want to love more, and teach my children to love. First God, then others.
MaryAnn Gaver and her husband, Jay, have been homeschooling their twin sons for six years.
Reaching out at Home & Beyond
Who’s Serving Who
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Courtesy of the Family Twelve-year-old Courtney F. plays her violin at a local assisted living home. |
My husband and I wanted community service to be part of our daughter’s education, so we chose a local assisted living home where Courtney could play her violin. The activities director was very receptive to the idea and we agreed to come for approximately one hour twice a month.
Courtney plays the pieces she is working on with her teacher, “Happy Birthday” for anyone who’s celebrating a birthday that month, and ends with a sing-along.
Watching this amazing group of folks singing the old hymns and patriotic songs they love so much is priceless! We end up being the ones served. They are extremely appreciative of our time with them, and we so enjoy chatting and exchanging hugs.
—Tony and Janice F. / Chesapeake, VA
Lead by Example
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to teach hand sewing to a group in inner-city New Orleans. After much thought and prayer, I felt strongly that I should bring along my 15-year-old daughter to assist me. So, we taught the class together through the summer.
After Hurricane Katrina hit a few weeks after our last class, our church launched
a ministry that allows teams from all over
the U.S. to stay at our church and go into New Orleans to gut houses, paint rooms, clean up, or pass out food. This past spring, my daughter came to my husband and me and informed us that she had contacted the ministry and was going to go into New Orleans every Friday for the entire summer to help out. She did just that, getting
up before 6:00 a.m. on Fridays. Amazingly, the place where she was headquartered
was on the same street where we had
taught our hand sewing class, so the area
was familiar to her.
Her dad and I are extremely proud of her initiative and you can bet I’m not sorry I took her with me to that inner-city group two years ago.
The Bible says that God works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. He places a bent in us toward certain pursuits, and when we follow His leading, our children are watching and often follow our example. What a blessing!
—Ruth S. / Abita Springs, LA
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