Enhanced – read by the author
with
Ashley Wiggers
W
e love eating egg-in-a-hole for breakfast. It’s a simple yet tasty way to start the day. Recently, it was such a nice morning here in Florida, my son requested eating our breakfast outside on the back porch. I thought that was a great idea. I encouraged him to clear off the table outside and wipe it down so it was ready for our meal. He accomplished this task and added some candles to it.
It made me stop and appreciate that joy in the simple things, such as having breakfast outside, and making even that a special moment, is being passed on.
Another morning before hubby started work, we all ended up piled on the small couch in our daughter Ruby’s room. Tickles from Daddy always produce giggles and we all had this sense of rest and peace in just being there together.
No accomplishment to speak of. No paper to show work that could be checked off. And yet, something very significant was taking place in these moments.
You and your spouse provide a covering over your home and your children that was designed by the Lord to create a sense of safety and well-being in both you and them. Home is the place where everyone can be at rest together and children learn who they are, how they fit in, and what they can do.
Young adults these days are struggling to know who they are and without that, peace is impossible. It is said that about one in eight children deal with anxiety. Statistics show young people are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety between thirteen and eighteen years old with 31.9% affected. I’m sure social media plays a role in this. If you think about it, social media teaches people to find their identity in what they choose to share or portray about themselves and how people respond. Imagine the shaky and unstable feeling you’d be left with.
Here’s what I’d like to point out. As we’re looking to set goals and have the right expectations, let’s focus on peace as a major priority. What produces peace in you and your family?
I think if we can see the magnitude of the simple moments we’re creating, and how they help our children experience peace and security, we would see that we’re doing a lot more than we think. When I look back on my week and begin to wonder if I did enough of this or that, I have to stop myself and remember what I’m giving my children is not necessarily a set of skills, although that is part of this journey too. What I’m really helping them develop is a sense of worth and giving them a picture of life.
They first learn who they are as members of our family, then they find out who they are in other environments. One day they’ll have to decide who they really want to be when they’re on their own. But this initial stage lays the foundation. When we eat together at the table, laugh and chat, we’re teaching them about what it means to be a family. When we take the time to see what they made and admire their creativity, we’re teaching them about the gifts God has placed in them. When we keep things simple and don’t let ourselves get overly busy, we’re teaching them about living a life that values rest.
Once our kids have grown, the things we taught them about what family looks like and how to get through the ups and downs of life are going to be far more important to their future than any worksheets they completed.
The story Durenda shares in Mom to Mom perfectly illustrates this point. If you haven’t read it yet, make sure to do so! She and her son found what worked for them and in Durenda’s wisdom, she didn’t overburden him. The result was a young man who gained what he needed and was able to take the next steps with motivation and the right timing.
shley Wiggers grew up in the early days of the homeschooling movement. She was taught by her late mother, Debbie Strayer, who was an educator, speaker, and the author of numerous homeschooling materials. It was through Debbie’s encouragement and love that Ashley learned the value of being homeschooled. Currently, Ashley is the co-executive editor of Homeschooling Today magazine, public relations director for Geography Matters, and the author of the Profiles from History series. Ashley makes her home in Lutz, FL, with her supportive father, Greg, her loving husband, Alex, their precious sons, Lincoln and Jackson, along with their newest blessing, baby Ruby.