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| Source: johnvilma.com |
Wanna know something interesting about me?
I'm a model.
I know, I know. Kinda of crazy, right?!
How do I do it, you ask? I mean, after three natural childbirths, and without my own personal trainer, chef, and clothing designer?
Oh, stop, I am blushing.
Well, here's the honest truth: I became a model very early in my life, when the Lord placed me in a family and put me in a community of my church, my school, and my neighborhood.
And then he gave me an even larger responsibility as a model when He became Lord of my life and I began to grow, and disciple others, in the faith.
And now as a mother, I have an even greater job to model godly values, and as a homeschooling mom, to model the joy and love of learning to my three little ones (and not-so-little ones!).
And I'm here to tell you, dear friend, as you are probably gathering by now, YOU are a model, too!
Each and every day, in every moment of the day, you and I are modeling what it means to be a Christian, a student, a hard worker, a servant, and a whole host of other things, to our children, our co-workers, and to all those we interact with in our neighborhood and faith communities.
Recently, as a homeschooling mother, I have realized the profound impact I have on my children as I model things such as wonder, courage, and delight in learning.
Let me explain.
Years ago, when I wanted to introduce something new into our curriculum, I would make an official announcement to the kids like this: "Kids, today we are going to do an artist study on Mary Cassatt..." and I would launch into a teaching lecture and we'd plow through the new material. Usually there would be some groaning by my son and some push-back (if not a full out tantrum) from my little one. I'd see this over and over again when I'd suggest going for a nature walk, reading a book aloud together...even if we were snuggling on the couch or I was offering a mug of hot cocoa and a snack alongside.
Now, I've come to see that my biggest role as a mother--especially as a homeschooling mother--is to model learning for myself. Instead of suggesting a group nature walk, I grab my own nature journal, go out to the backyard or walk into the woods when the kids are outside playing already, and I plop down and sketch out a pine cone I've found or a mushroom I picked up. I can't tell you how many times, once the kids slow down enough to notice what I am doing, I have found that one of them goes back into the house to grab their nature journal and sit down beside me to journal a nature treasure, too. Or, I will spot one of them journaling later in the day, on their own time.
I've seen this happen over and over again, after times I've chosen to read a good book, spend quiet time with the Lord, or pick up some needlework. Suddenly, a child will become interested enough to ask me to teach them how to cross-stitch or to read a few pages aloud to them.
Now, keep in mind, this process works both ways! Just this month my oldest was drawing a chalk pastel picture of a nutcracker using an instructional video. I just love nutcrackers, and was tempted to draw one, too, but had never used chalk pastels. Seeing her joy and delight, I was encouraged to step out of my comfort zone and grab some chalks and paper, too. We both enjoyed chalking a nutcracker and hung them both on the fridge for all to see! (I remember my friends seeing my drawing and asking, "Who has the initials RLF?" and then noting their surprise when I answered, "I DO! That one's mine!"). We as mothers, and co-workers, and friends, must be humble to learn from others ourselves and to demonstrate courage in trying new things.
I love how homeschool blogger Sarah Mackenzie puts this concept of modeling delight, wonder, and love of learning, in her book, Teaching from Rest:
"If teaching is the art of imitation, then we ought to make ourselves worthy of imitation. By our very nature, as mothers we are saying 'imitate me.' Cultivating intellectual growth, nurturing your creative side, diving into good books, learning a new skill, working refreshment into your busy routine...When we meet regularly with other women to read a classic, do an hour of nature study, or learn to paint with watercolors, we are demonstrating with our very lives that the world is worth learning about, our minds are worth cultivating, and people are worth loving. We model delight in learning something new, and we demonstrate what it looks like to find like-minded peers to encourage and to be encouraged by."
So, do you see now, friend? You, me, we are ALL models!
Will we choose to conduct ourselves in a way that is worthy of modeling a life after?
Will we choose to feast our minds and souls on the good, the true, and the beautiful?
Oh, I trust that we will, and in so doing, cultivate a rich harvest of like-minded souls alongside of us!
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