I spent the weekend away at a Charlotte Mason education retreat, a weekend of beauty and liturgy and much to ponder as I plan the coming school year. I am generally, at this time of year, pouring over curriculum catalogs and weighing the benefits of one program over another, but this year I am stopped in my tracks by thoughts that go so much deeper than curriculum. I stumbled today upon a quote seemingly tandem to those percolating in my thoughts, and thought it worth sharing.
"Train with this thought continually before your eyes -
that the soul of your child is the first thing to be considered.
Precious, no doubt, are these little ones in your eyes;
but if you love them, think often of their souls.
No interest should weigh with you so much as their eternal interests.
No part of them should be so dear to you as that part which will never die....
This is the thought that should be uppermost on your mind
in all you do for your children.
In every step you take about them, in every plan, and scheme,
and arrangement that concerns them,
do not leave out that mighty question,
"How will this affect their souls?"
~ JC Ryle
During the retreat, I was much affected by a prayer shared by the presenters, and plan to print it out large, to keep in my sight and conciousness.
"O God make the door of this school wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship, narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife. Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children, nor to straying feet, but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempter's lower. God, make the door of this school a gateway to thine eternal kingdom." - Origin unknown
Amen.
Trusting in Him,
Aimee
