Category Archives: Spiritual Encouragement

The NEW Seedlings

March 3, 2014Christianity, homeschooling, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragementcall on your life, children with different personalities, encouragement for moms, God's Calling, God's plans, homeschooling mom, new homeschooling mom, raising children, TEACHER MOM, why teachT.W. Allgaier

Time in the garden has its moments!!

When I first started homeschooling, I was not completely confident in my ability to teach my own children. Oh I knew that I truly had been called to do so, but I also heard a lot of negative from well meaning family members and friends. “You cannot protect them forever”. “They need to learn how to deal with the ‘real’ world.”

Exactly.

Someone told me this story, and I cannot remember who it was or I would give credit. It is probably not exactly how I heard it…but the same principle applies.

We start our plants from seeds. The goal is for those seeds to grow into seedlings and then into the plant or vegetable to grow to full maturity. We cultivate them when inside. We make sure they get enough water, good soil and plenty of sunshine. We move them from window to window if necessary, and even put them in a greenhouse.

We put them out. Maybe too early, maybe not. It is our first time growing our own plants, so it is a trial run really. The seedlings settle in the ground and the roots begin to grow. Things are looking good! Until…

The winds come, and the little seedlings get a bit unsettled. The rain is so heavy and the seedlings have a hard time keeping their roots in the soil. They are a bit wobbly. Finally the rabbits raid the garden. The roots are so battered, bruised, water logged….the rabbits win. The seedlings are uprooted. They did not last. Maybe they were put out too early.

The next time we wait longer. The roots are stronger and established. Once planted in the garden they seem sturdy. The rains come. The wind comes, and those pesky little rabbits…but the roots stay firm. The seedlings grow into strong sturdy plants. They survive because their root system is strong enough to withstand all those issues!! The storms rage and of course will come…but they stand.

So can we dare apply that to our children? Can we put them in this old world too early? We can train, teach and educate them until we feel we should. We can go against what the world says…and follow the will of the Father. It is not for everybody, but is it for you and your children? Are you called to educate your children? Only you can answer that question.

Trust me when I say…those storms will come and rage. Your childrens’ root system will be tested. Will their roots be strong enough?

Blessings dear ones~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

Not Just Reading Glasses…

February 26, 2014Christ's rest, Discouraged Christian, Hope, Jesus Christ, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, Trials, TroublesAbba, Christ, Christian encouragement, Christian life, encouragement, encouragement in Christ, God's peace, spiritual encouragementT.W. Allgaier

It used to just be reading glasses…

Do you like to read? I must say it is one of my favorite past times…but usually it is late at night and I fall asleep before I get through three pages! But I still enjoy reading anything put in front of me.

There in lies the problem. When I turned 40 my arms simply were not long enough. As time went on, I transferred from just reading glasses to the tri focal version. And at 53, they are the first thing I grab in the morning. They certainly amplify the words, and quite frankly, everything else I lay eyes on! All these things appear larger than they really are…but they indeed are true in image and focus.

I am so grateful for the ability to actually see better. Looking through these glasses really gives me perspective of what I am looking at.

I contend that the Father gives us His eyes if we allow Him to do so. If we see personal problems and issues of this world through His eyes, somehow they become so much clearer. They don’t go away, and we still might not understand. But I have found that I can deal with personal problems with much different “vision”.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus gets it folks. When no one else understands, He does. He sees it with clarity, and although we may not really understand, we can always trust Him. I know from experience.

So I need my glasses. I am grateful with the “clarity” in which I now see…trust me, they help in many ways…..

Blessings dear ones…

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*

Behavior-Respect=Lack of Discipline

February 26, 2014homeschooling, Love one another, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, teachers, Uncategorizedbehavior in children, christian encouragement for moms, discipline, discipline children, encouragement for teachers, first year teachers, homeschooling mom, raising children, respect, student behavior, Teaching, teaching position, unconditional love for childrenT.W. Allgaier

An Observed Formula

As a former teacher and mom of adult children, I have made a number of observations. I cannot say that they are correct, nor can I claim any scientific evidence. But it is was I have observed…my formula so to speak.

Behavior-Respect=Lack of Discipline

Behavior is defined as “the manner of conducting oneself” (Merriam-Webster) Respect is defined “a feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable, important, etc.” and “a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way” (Merriam-Webster). Discipline is defined as “control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior” or “a way of behaving that shows a willingness to obey rules or orders”.(Merriam-Webster)

How interesting. Could it be that simple?

The manner of conducting oneself, without the feeling of value leads to lack of behaving in a way that shows a willingness to obey rules?

Yep. I think it is.

If we don’t teach our children how to have respect for themselves and others, they will have no reason to follow any rules. What does it really matter to them? I am mindful of Mark 12:30-31, when Jesus was responding to a question by one of the “teachers of the law” when he asked what the greatest commandments was, and Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”

Hopefully we teach our children to love their neighbors, but do we teach them to love their neighbor as they do themselves? Now I am not talking about the way some might do…the child can do no wrong, I am talking about respect and love. Teaching your child their value…..that God has a plan for them. How their lives are so important and they count for something. How Jesus loves them “without condition”.

I have seen both sides of that pendulum. Children who are given no respect at home, practically raising themselves, and don’t understand what it means to love others and put their needs first. They are kids for heaven’s sake, and yet the needs of those raising them comes first. I have seen it folks, firsthand and it is sad. How can a child dealing with those issues be full of respect for others and be disciplined at the same time?

Most of the issues I dealt with at school involved a lack of respect for themselves, friends and those in authority. I get it. But dealing with those behaviors while trying to educate is not always a happy mix. (But that is another blog!)

At any rate, I feel as though I am rambling, and I most likely am…but it breaks my heart. Our children, the children that are growing up around us…are they taught or given unconditional love? Can we as teachers, parents, friends…give it? Does it mean allowing a child to do what he wants when he wants it? Is our society disrespectful in general? What can we do?

I don’t have all the answers and will never pretend to have them. But the one thing I know for sure is that we must love. We must teach our children the true meaning of unconditional love. Then we must surrender to the Lord Jesus and allow Him to love others through us. How you teach that is up to you and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I spent much of my day teaching and demanding respect. But my students knew that I loved them. They knew that they were important to me. They knew that the discipline (to train, to teach, to educate..Strongs) was because of the love I had for them, due to the unconditional love shown me through Christ. The children were not the reason I stopped teaching..although having my proverbial “hands tied” did contribute … (But that too is another blog)

So what is the answer? Jesus. Knowing who He really is…having an intimate relationship with Him and not making it about “rules and regulations” Without the love, rules and regulations will just lead to rebellion. (But that is another blog too!!)

I hope that I have given you some things to ponder. I would love to hear your thoughts on my observed formula! And it appears as though I have three more blogs to write….education and dealing with discipline issues….teachers leaving the field…rules and regulations without relationship…..hmmmmmm…..

Blessings dear ones~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9