Schoolrooms and school terms

Do you use a school room? It was something I always thought of as being a nice concept, but when we moved house just before Christmas, we discovered a long thin room down the side of the house which would have been perfect. Indeed, that's exactly what our homeschooling neighbours do!

But four months later, do we have a school room? No. We are transforming it slowly into a study, and currently use if for activities which need a bit of quiet - Skype conference calls for the parents, Rosetta Stone for the boys. But in general, most of our education takes place all over the place, but rarely in a fixed and separate location.

Charlotte Mason famously said, 'Education is an atmosphere and education is a life'. I think that probably sums up why we don't find a school room particularly helpful. Instead, our typical day would look more like this:

1) Bible, history, read-alouds (both parent reading to child and child reading to parent) and any other books we are reading together - outside in the back yard. We have a small enclosed area with colourful flowering bushes around the walls, fascinating birdlife and at least four different types of lizard. In the mornings it is cool enough to enjoy being out there, but by about midday the heat starts to pound down on you and it is time to move elsewhere.

2) We then move to the dining table for spelling, copywork, other 'language arts', maths and bits of science. The dining table is useful because it is right next to the hatch which leads to the kitchen and so I can be in the kitchen but keeping a very close eye on the children. (They are not yet at the age where I am happy for them to be in a different room)

3) Maths often moves to the kitchen (for measuring, chopping, following recipes, baking and so forth) or to the living room floor (lego, building blocks, other forms of counting, adding and so forth)

4) Science often ends up outside, involving growing things, experiments involving water and other slightly messier activities

5) The 'education' tends to be ongoing - we might need to go to the market, or to walk somewhere. Often walking and talking gives an opportunity to further discuss the reading from earlier in the day.

6) Music might involve gathering around the piano. Sometimes we just sing. Other times we get out the box of 'instruments' which can make a fairly rowdy noise. We try not to do that one too close to bedtime. We also have activities out and about - choir on one afternoon, music classes on another morning.

7) Sports of course would never be undertaken in a school room! We have some activities which are great for on the compound. Interval sprint training (such as fartlek) and cycling is good on the road outside, especially in the day when there is not much traffic. Other sports are done as part of a home education group and include swimming, basketball and athletics

8) Spanish (or it could be any language) is best done in the study. Rosetta stone is quite amazing - it tunes into each child's voice and does not let them proceed until the pronounciation is correct. This does need a quiet space as free from interruption as possible

9) Otherwise, the rest of our day is spent dipping in and out of books, playing games, discussing a range of topics, and this will be done where ever we happen to be.

Similarly, another question we are often asked about is whether we take holidays. Often our initial response is that we don't. Taking a holiday might imply there was a need to take a holiday from something, and even when we are out of town, or even in a different country, much of our time is spent learning and exploring the world around us. There will be different opportunities in different places. But we do move with the ebb and flow of life. Around Christmas, the boys did an intensive swimming camp which required being out of the house from 9 am until mid-afternoon. We clearly did not manage quite as many read-alouds or as much maths and science during those weeks! This week, they were joined by their baby sister; that too has caused some distraction and we accept that we might not march through the scheduled activities (we are following Sonlight curriculum as well as the additional opportunities which arise through daily life) at the same rate as usual. I think the beauty here is that our schedule is not imposed on us. We seem to be heading to complete the academic 'year' in approximately the right number of weeks (not that it would matter tremendously if we did not) but that has been through taking things at our pace, having the slower weeks at our convenience and so forth.

I think a lot of these thoughts come back to one's underlying philosophy of education. Why are you home educating? Are you simply aiming for 'school at home' for practical reasons? Or are you taking a more holistic view of education, recognising that just about everything that happens in life has lessons which are of benefit for the children?

So, we are left with a room which needs a little more work at the side of our house. It is a peaceful area and hopefully the work done there will be focussed. Perhaps as the children get older (my eldest is still only six) they will need room to work independently without distraction. But the 'dream' of a neat, ordered, quiet schoolroom with maps and posters on the wall might be passing by.

Where does most of your education take place? Do you use a school room or a set area? 

Intentional living

Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil Ephesians 5:15-16

I've written before about 'intentional parenting'. This was a concept I was delighted to come across early on in our parenting experience, because it just rang true of so much that we saw in our culture. There are so many well-meaning people who simply do what everybody else does ('default') or do whatever makes their life easier ('survival').

I would extend this concept to suggest that all Christians should think about 'intentional adulthood'. There have been several things that have made us think about this recently - mainly what seem to be the presumptions and assumed worldview of young adults we know who are making life decisions (and many of these are in the area of finances). So often, people seem to do things because that is what people do, rather than questioning why, and whether these things are really necessary. Often there may be an expectation (from parents or peers for example), but often the expectation is from within themselves.

It might be best illustrated with an example, perhaps one I have used before. When we first headed out to southern Africa, we had no children. Four years and three children later, we returned to the UK for a few years and moved back into our three bedroom terraced house in a residential area of a northern city. It was perfect for our needs. But what astounded me at the time (and still, as I recollect on those days) was the attitude of many Christians around us. There was an assumption that we must move into the suburbs, to a four bedroom house with a garden. Time after time, we received comments and questions, implying our house was insufficient. A relative asked, 'How does this house compare to those of your peers?' (We had no idea! It is not something we would ever talk about or think about unless we were invited to their homes). An elder from church suggested it was, 'A bit of a starter home', which I found a little insulting to the elderly couples who lived on our street and who had worked hard all their lives to live there! But more than anything, I was just taken aback. We knew many people living in single room properties without proper roofing or plumbing, and now we had three bedrooms, a functional kitchen, running water and everything we could think of. How could that be insufficient?

It was a simple example regarding something inanimate, but it challenged me to consider. What do we consider essential? What do we consider luxuries? Do we truly trust that God will provide everything we NEED as opposed to everything we WANT?

As Christians, the Bible gives us principles, but not specific details on many of the aspects of living I am considering. We are taught that it is better to not have too much or too little. We are taught to be content in all circumstances, whether we have want or whether we abound (Philippians chapter 4). We are warned by Jesus Himself that we cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13). Those who are wealthy are advised to be generous with what they have and seek to glorify God through such blessings (1 Timothy 6:17). It's not so much about what we have but about our motives. But I also think that some people can use that as an excuse, since nobody except God truly knows our motives! Also, there are many places where God tells us about the blessings He wishes for us, and that many of the good things in life are there to be enjoyed. But again, one must take care there; we should not puritanically deprive ourselves of things for no good reason, but we (and when I say 'we', I am thinking of an individual from a well resourced, industrialised country) probably take too much for granted.

The other example that springs to my mind is take-away coffee from some of the bigger franchises. These drinks can cost several pounds or dollars, and many people think of these as a necessity of life. Indeed, coffee is now listed as a major weekly expense for many. But when I watch students and those I know who are struggling to make ends meet fetch their daily coffee, I do wonder about their priorities. I struggle to buy these drinks, because it somehow seems abhorrent to spend more on a drink than many people live on for a day, and so restrict them to a rare treat, perhaps whilst travelling. But I think many people just don't think. They don't see the cost adding up over the weeks and months and think about how that might be better used.

I would think that young adults starting out on their first jobs, or considering marriage, should consider and discuss some of the following areas. (I know that much has been written on marriage preparation, and I do not intend to replicate that here, but rather to give some broad areas to consider). In fact, I think Christians should consider everything! Why do we do what we do? Why do we make the choices we do? Where does our hope lie? Are we putting our confidence in our possessions or choices, or are we seeking God's guidance in all things?

Some examples we have thought of recently include:

1) What kind of house is really necessary? Do you really need to buy the biggest house you can afford? Do you really need to take on a huge mortgage? Of course you might wish to have plenty of space for guests and to offer hospitality; but search your heart on this! Some of the best fellowship I have known has been in very small homes where we've been packed in a bit, but have wholeheartedly enjoyed one another's company (some related thoughts on contentment are here)

2) Do you really need a car? Or two or three cars? Some people will. Could you use public transport? Could you walk or cycle, and so incorporate exercise into daily life (and maybe remove the need to use the gym) - there have been quite a few 'research studies' lately that have shown that those who walk or use public transport for commuting tend to be leaner and more healthy. I find it amazing that such research gets funded, since it seems to state the obvious!

3) Is eating and drinking out a necessity of daily life or a luxury? For some single people in busy jobs, it might make more sense to eat out more often, depending on their income. I'm not saying I think eating out is wrong - but are you just spending without thinking to make life easier?

4) Do you know how to cook? Buying and cooking fresh seasonal produce brings many health benefits as well as being friendly on the pocket.

5) Is there a 'dream job', or would you be willing to take a less ideal job that provides for your needs? I am not saying that one should not plan, should not prepare and study and apply for jobs that enable the best use of gifts. But there can be times when it is better to accept what is available and keep looking than to consider something not good enough. Career can become an idol - and perhaps when there is success, it is something we must guard against more carefully. However, excellence is good, and can bring great glory to God.

6) Do your children really need more things? Will getting the latest toy or gadget benefit them? How? Is your tablet device really for educational use only? Again, entertainment is not wrong in itself, but it seems to be a big area where people are wont to deceive themselves.

7) Is leisure time a right or a privilege? And what about holidays? (I would agree that rest is a God-given necessity and should be delighted in when there is opportunity!) How should leisure time and holidays be best used?

I could go on. I am aware of the flip-side. Living simply and frugally can equally become an idol. It can become a source of pride. I do not intend to sound judgemental in the comments I have made, but have been quite astounded when I see well educated, sensible people simply appear not to really consider the best use of their time and resources. I get frustrated when I see young Christians feeling under pressure from their parents to adopt a certain lifestyle, rather than feeling free to follow the risky calling God has on their lives. It bothers me a bit when I feel the choices our family make are most misunderstood by Christians! (There are quite a few secular, postmodern friends who accept our choices, since 'You need to do what is right for you', a philosophy which I do not hold)

My question today is this: Are there areas of your life where you simply follow the obvious or well trodden path, rather than intentionally seeking God's will?

Home Education and Adoption

Yesterday, we were approved as potential adoptive parents! We underwent a fairly detailed, three-month long social work assessment and yesterday was 'panel'. It had been suggested that there may be concerns about our decision to home educate. Part of this is due to it not being as well known an option here in the country where we live, and were the usual chestnuts of 'socialisation' etc. As it so happened, God answered our prayers and the adoptive parent representative actually homeschooled her children and was familiar with the benefits, and even of the curriculum we use.

In preparing for panel, I decided to see what had been written about home education and adopted children. Most of what I found was anecdotal, but it makes perfect sense.

1) For me, the strongest argument is that there is no difference between an adopted and a biological child. At least, not in our home. If homeschooling is your first choice, then it is your first choice, whether your children are biological or adopted. Your motivations will be the same. Each child, biological or adopted has unique strengths and limitations, and by home educating them, there is the opportunity to spend the necessary time to explore strengths, to work on weaknesses, to speed up or slow down according to their level of interest and progress.

2) There does tend, in the UK and the USA, to be an assumption that an adopted child will have special educational needs. As indicated in the link above, I do not find that presumption necessarily helpful. However, there is some truth that these children may have been exposed to drugs and alcohol in utero, may have had a poor early bonding experience, and if the child is older, may have been through various types of trauma. Several families have written blogs describing just how helpful home education has been in meeting the individual needs of their child (ie here and here). The UK provides some guidance on homeschooling adopted children here. There may be attachment issues or identity questions which arise later, and again, I would consider that the structure and stability of a home educating family might be the ideal place for a child to be supported through these.

3) Children may come from a different background than the parents. For us, all of our children have been born in different countries and we endeavour to maintain some of the links - celebrating national holidays, learning some recipes, songs, some of the history  - really seeking that the child knows their identity. We are open about adoption, talk about it often, and hope that the adopted children grow with a strong sense of who they are as part of a multicultural family. Some bloggers describe this nicely ie here, here and here)

4) Unless the child is adopted at birth, the family will have missed some of the early life and development of that child. By home educating, there is longer spent together to build that bond - not just between parent and child, but between siblings. This is described here and here.

For us, as we prepare to welcome a new arrival, we plan to continue our usual routine of learning through the richness of daily life, of involving all the children in a range of activities, and spending many many hours reading books together. We know there may be challenges ahead (as with any family!), and believe that our lifestyle provides the best resource to work together as a family and build each child's confidence. Most importantly, we seek to equip our children with a strong biblical worldview providing the foundation for whatever God calls them to in the future.

What legacy will a childhood leave?

In our home, we read many biographies. These days, there are some excellent resources for children of all ages (as discussed in this post on 'living books') The children love to hear of how men and women who started life as children who loved to play, grew up and did great things for the Lord. It inspires them. I'm also enjoying the autobiography of Nelson Mandela at the moment, and know that one day in the future, the boys will be challenged and inspired by much of his life (and will be able to reflect on the less praiseworthy elements, especially of his young adult life!)

One thing which has struck me is how many biographers start of describing their childhood, their memories of the first home, of their parents, of the prevailing culture and worldview within their home. Many, particularly those from previous generations, often describe a very free childhood, with hours spent playing out of doors with their friends, of exploring, imagining, creating and enjoying the simple pleasures of what was often a simple life. Many also describe discipline - of misdemeanours which were punished, and of the values and priorities of their families; in some situations the discipline may have been overly harsh, whereas in others it seemed appropriate and the evidence would suggest it achieved its end.

This has made me wonder about our current generation. This week in a prominent British newspaper was the report that many British children spend less time out of doors than the recommended minimum for prisoners. Whilst shocking, I was not surprised to read this. We lived in the UK for several years recently, and one of the most striking things was how few children we saw out of doors. We often had the parks to ourselves, and I was particularly taken aback one snowy Saturday morning when we walked several miles across two beautiful parks and saw no other children at all. I (in slight irony) posed the question on Facebook of whether children played in the snow these days, and received many replies suggesting that it was too cold for children to play outside. (Too cold? In the UK, where it rarely goes much below zero!) Similarly, discipline seems to be disapproved of; much has been written about 'positive parenting', and I am not going to discuss exactly what I think about some of that here and now, but what I would observe is the least disciplined generation of British children there has ever been. Parents feel unable to take their children into shops, or places to eat due to the risk of tantrums and poor behaviour. Schools have strict rules prohibiting discipline, and in any event, should a teacher attempt to discipline a child, it is most likely that their parent will lodge a complaint. The child is often elevated to the position of being one who controls a household!

But in seriousness, childhood has dramatically changed for the current generation of youngsters. Many are shuttled around from nursery to after school activities, and when at home, are occupied by televisions or i-pads. There is an increased emphasis on educational activities - and indeed many will justify the screen time in this respect. But the time for relationship, for imaginative play, for fresh air and appreciation of the beauty of nature seems to be ever diminishing. Many previous generations were characterised by a strong oral tradition of local and family legend, or folklore or of wisdom handed down from older to younger. Today, respect for elders is reduced and I do not know of many families where such time for listening and storytelling continues. Mealtimes were once the place where even a busy family would convene and share the events of their day; however many homes these days do not even contain a dining table, and microwave meals eaten in front of the television may be preferred.

I wonder what a child raised in such conditions would write in a biography many years hence? How would they recall their childhood? I also find myself wondering whether the plastic, superficial entertainment and endless activity without clear goals will produce a generation of clear-minded, motivated leaders who substantially impact upon society.

I could spend much time ranting about what I think may be wrong with today's society, with specific reference to the rearing of children. But others have written far more, and more eloquently on this topic. I would personalise the question and put it this way: What legacy am I providing for my children? What foundation in life? What will they remember when they are teaching their children? Are we providing the foundation and worldview required to make a difference in their generation?

What are we putting in place to give our children a strong and formative childhood? I wonder if part of the problem these days is that traditions have been lost, and few people are taking the time to consider what is really required. Rather, there is a tendency to drift, to follow the crowd and not to question, as opposed to intentional parenting.

For us, these questions partly motivate our choice to home educate. We wish to provide a diverse and rich curriculum where the children can explore and interact with history, geography, and world cultures, whilst also being equipped in the necessary language arts and mathematical skills they require. For us, Sonlight is ideal as it is structured with living books, not avoiding controversial or challenging topics, and provides the basis for much further discussion. We don't limit ourselves to the Sonlight resources - for example, my husband and I will both talk about things we have read in the evenings, of items in the news or events from our days, making these appropriate for the age of our children. By that, I don't mean we avoid discussing terrorism, war, famine or disaster, but rather we try to avoid detail or things which might be confusing for them (for example, what the motivation of a suicide bomber might be!) We want our children to be prepared to live in this world, and to understand that it is a broken and fallen place, and to be able to correctly apply Scripture into these most challenging of situations rather than living in some kind of spiritual bubble.

Secondly, we endeavour to provide the time for the children to play, and to be children. Not to always 'pounce' seeking to explain a concept, but rather taking a step back from time to time and allowing their childish imaginations to take them on adventures.

Thirdly, we prayerfully consider the use of our time - aiming for a few group activities and meet ups, but not so many that we don't have down time as a family, to read, to chat, to cook together and to sing together. Some people refer to this as 'margin' - having the space for the children to ask questions, to reflect, to spend longer on tasks rather than rushing through simply to tick off an item from a list.

My question for you today is similar: What kind of childhood would you wish your children to recall in years hence, and how do you aim to achieve this?

Quality of Written English/ Swiss Family Robinson

Have you ever noticed how the standard of English in childrens' books has declined over the past 50 years? We have many Ladybird books from the 1960s, where a rich and diverse vocabulary is employed to describe the world around us, important characters from history and a range of other topics. We have some more recent Ladybird books which are verge on the 'twaddle' so much detested by Charlotte Mason - poor quality English, restricted vocabulary and minimal content. This is just one publisher and one example. Is it any wonder that children then have a limited vocabulary and do not naturally develop the expansive skills in written and spoken English that we would require? I have had many trips to the public libraries in the UK, and have been disappointed by the selection, or frustrated by the inane, senseless storylines of some of the books, particularly those aimed at younger children.

This weekend I picked up a copy of The Swiss Family Robinson and started to read it aloud (we try to have a book that we read together as a family). I had read it as a child, but what really struck me reading it as an home educating parent was the richness of the language and the very practical descriptions of how one might survive on a desert island. The father in the story is also clearly a spiritual leader, and each day begins and ends with prayers of thanksgiving, and at intervals he corrects the wrong attitudes of his sons. I was intrigued by this, so read a bit further (using web searches). In fact the author was a Swiss pastor who wrote the story for his sons, deliberately seeking to provide practical lessons in nature and animal husbandry, but also in moral conduct and family responsibilities. Written over 200 years ago, and translated into English a little later, the language is beautiful and poetic, and my sons are captivated.

I just wanted to share this, as it was most refreshing to pick up a book which contains just about everything you could want for three young boys - adventure, survival, practical skills and ingenuity, but underpinning it all, a reverence and honour of the Lord who created it all.

PS: Just read this helpful blog on how to choose the best books for your children

Communication, technology and relationships

I wrote a little about this the other week, when I was reflecting on how people 'back home' can best be a supportive friend to those who have gone overseas. I've also often wondered about our current generation where there seem to be more forms of 'communication' than ever before - social media in its various forms (I don't even know what twitter is really for, and haven't yet discovered whatsapp, but I do use Facebook! These are probably not even the latest ones) and an increasing range of gadgets to communicate with. But do people really communicate? And if not, what are they doing, and what do they think the are achieving?

There are many cartoons drawing attention to how foolish we can become, ignoring those around us to look at a post or a message from somebody we barely know. But the sad thing is just how true this can be; I think we have all seen people (including ourselves) make some of those errors. And I know people who get quite irritable if we don't immediately answer our phones (or even worse, if we should choose to leave them behind!)

My challenge is how to maintain relationships at a distance. What is the role of Facebook? Or email? Or any of the online tools? Is there a role at all, or should we revert to sending letters which take months to arrive (if at all) and catching up face to face during the rare times we are in the same place as one another?

I think Facebook does have a role.

On the general site, I like to be able to see approximately how friends are doing, and see pictures of weddings, babies, lovely holidays and groups of friends having fun. I know there is much that such pictures cannot tell me, but I can at least see what people look like these days, and know approximately what significant life events have happened. (It can be quite awkward when, after 4 years overseas you ask after somebody to be greeted by an incredulous stare: 'Didn't you know he died last year?') Similarly, I know friends and family like to see photos of what we are up to. I also post links to charties we are involved with (such as the orphanage where my son lived for six weeks when he was a baby, or the organisation my husband works for). I also keep a small email list of people who like to receive regular short updates and send a few photos and a bit of news every couple of weeks - but I do sometimes worry about spamming people's mailboxes, and given the few replies I receive I start to wonder whether the emails are irritating. So Facebook has the advantage of being on the terms of the person looking at it - nobody ever feels spammed (or at least, I don't think they do). But I would take great care in posting anything particularly personal or sensitive there. My concern is that people (especially the younger generation, but it affects all of us who have access to the technologies) is that it is easy to food oneself that this is meaningful communication. In an age with ever increasing technology available to the majority, there are more and more people experiencing desperate loneliness. Which makes you wonder whether this 'communication' is helpful at all.

Much has been written on this. For example, the desire to see how many 'likes' a post gets, induces a neurochemical response similar to that seen in laboratory rats who are trained to do certain things to generate a positive stimulus. And of course there are issues of online safety, the overlap between the personal and the professional domains and others. This short book by Tim Chester is quite helpful in providing a balanced view of the risks.

I like the groups within Facebook. So for example, a Bible study group can have a 'hidden group' whereby a dozen people can communicate on a slightly deeper level, perhaps sharing prayer requests, challenges which they have encountered in their lives or asking specifically for help and encouragement. I am in a couple of such groups, mainly relating to church or home education, and I find this ability to be a bit more honest with a smaller group of people helpful. It is very useful to be able to ask a small group of trusted friends to pray for something. However, we are still limited to short posts, and people tend to 'like' the post and write a couple of words in reply; it is not nearly the same as really being able to sit down and talk things through.

Old fashioned (and it's funny to write that, given I went through the whole of University without using email) emails between just one friend are good, perhaps my favourite thing of all - these have the advantages of letters, but without the time delay. We can write to one another and instantly the letter is half way around the world, and can be enjoyed. But then these do take more time and effort than short general 'posts' or updates.

I know others who basically accept that they will not be able to keep up with everybody they have been friends with in every place where they have lived, and instead focus on building the relationships that are right in front of them. Rather than worrying about talking with people back 'home', they build a new friendship group in the community where God has placed them. We do try to do this, but I feel reluctant to stop trying to keep channels of communication open with people who are not physically here. Maybe that's also where Facebook can be useful; you can keep in touch superficially enough to make it easier to pick things up at some time in the future. We know where to find one another.

I am aware I haven't fully answered the question I started with, and I imagine that the use of communication technology might differ from individual to individual and from time to time. It certainly is a blessing to be able to ring home, or send photos of the grandchildren, and when I read missionary biographies from a byegone era, I realise how hard things must have been, perhaps in a particular way for the people left behind.

But I am also aware that we can convince ourselves that we are communicating when we are not! We can spend hours responding to things from people we barely know, rather than investing in a small number of meaningful relationships. And I think every Christian who uses Facebook should do so cautiously and prayerfully. I have a number of good friends who have just stopped, for a range of reasons. I miss hearing from them (!) but I also respect that choice.

How do you use social media in a positive and God-honouring way? If you are overseas, how do you keep in touch with loved ones? If you have friends overseas, how do you keep in touch with them?

Busy, but thankful

I've not managed to blog over the past couple of weeks. Instead, I have been in three different continents, am pushing some tight deadlines, and in between have tried to ensure there is stability in the home. My husband has also travelled, and we have been thankful for the working arrangements that make this kind of life possible.

Specific things which have made me thankful (and yes, I may jump around a bit - I blame a bit of fatigue!):

1) I met a good friend in a city in the USA where neither of us live. We used to live in the same country in southern Africa, but had not seen one another for eight years. Yet it was as though we had never been apart, and she brought me great encouragement and refreshment. I was very thankful that God enabled such an opportunity when travelling for work-related reasons, and it was great to start a scientific conference with some spiritual encouragement!

2) Sharing in the history my boys have been learning. They love the poem 'Paul Revere's ride'. I had the chance to run along the 'freedom trail' at sunrise and photograph some of the historic sites as they look today. I wouldn't have known anything about Boston if it hadn't been through homeschooling the boys, and they got an extra perspective through their mum being a medical academic. I like it when things work together like that!

3) I've mentioned before that our neighbours also homeschool - it has been great to see the children increasingly play together, and even share some educational activities. Dressing up and 'acting' is popular, as was pasta-making the other day! Living on a compound has some great advantages, and also some challenges at times. But right now, I find it refreshing and watching the children playing together is a highlight.

4) I'm simply overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord who has blessed us so abundantly. I think people in the west (or as some people might term it, 'the north', or 'well resourced countries') almost like to moan and have no idea how much they have to be thankful for. Maybe when you live in a country where many children cannot afford an education, or where you know families who eat once a day or less, or when you know children who do not own a single book - then it is just humbling and overwhelming to have freedom and choice, to have shelves full of books, and the time and resources to invest in educating our children.

Your life is probably equally busy at times. What makes you most thankful? When you stop and reflect, how has God blessed you, encouraged you and provided for you?