I love to read! However, my best learning happens outside of the books. When I watch people, or interact with people I learn what to do or not to do. My choice in reading material is important because it leads me in the right direction but to learn something new, to put it into action I have to see it or hear it. I have to be inspired by my surroundings.
One reason we home school is because I don't believe sitting in a classroom with 20 other kids is necessarily the primary way to go. Yes, some kids can thrive on it, however, kids get lost in a crowd, they zone out if not interested, may be embarrassed to show interest in something others would find dumb. I love going on "field trips." Every vacation we have ever had has been a learning adventure vs. time off of school. Things we have witnessed/experienced on our trips:
civil war battlefields
maple sugar farms
country doctor home/office
how a farm is run
hiking/nature trails/moutains
Indian reservations
army museum
Presidential Homesteads
Guitar factory-how it is made from beginning to end
So what does this have to do with the topic "do as I do?" Plenty. We are each a piece of this big puzzle. Reading about something is great, but experiencing it together is better. Usually real life throws a curve ball from a book. A doctor cannot learn medicine from a book alone, he must have patients. We can write our budget down on paper but somehow things work out differently at the end of the month due to unexpected reality. Real life is just different-we have the people factor involved.
I have a friend who is amazingly giving, she wishes her kids would have more interest in Torah. Unfortunately she hounds them about it. I told her to stop talking to them about what she wishes they would do and just let them watch her. I think back to my childhood and how I observed my parents and now do a lot of what they did (even though I said I never would-lol)
Why are we told to study Torah AND do mitzvot? Studying alone is not enough. We must be there to show each other the ropes, to help each other out. We are all connected. Raising kids teaches us so much. They will follow what we do way before adhering to a lecture from us. People watch us more than we know.
I was a bank teller years ago and a lady brought in a bottle of perfume for me. I was stunned. She said I always took good care of her and smiled and she wanted to show her appreciation. I had no idea I was being looked at in such a way, she was not even a customer I knew well like some other regulars.
We are to be a light to the nations, it starts with inspiration from Torah being transformed into good deeds-our household will notice and then we can spread it to the rest of the world. Books and studying are wonderful but it can't stop there.
Shabbat Shalom!
Adventuresome Me
- Tamar Ruth
- Who I started out as is not who I have become! I grew up in a small town, very small...and all I wanted to do was move to the city. Now as an adult that small town has grown and is overcrowded. I want what I had as a kid...small town living. We don't appreciate what we have until it is gone. I water my plants with my rain barrel water,grow veggies in the front yard and want chickens and goats in the worst way. I married my high school sweetheart and after 18 years of marriage converted to Judaism. Did I mention I have 4 kids and I homeschool? My oldest son just graduated! The purpose of this blog is to share my experiences--homeschooling, being Jewish and loving it in a not so Jewish town, gardening, animals, and alternative medicines. So, if any of these things interest you---come along for the ride!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Refined Like Silver
I can't believe its been 2 months since I have posted.
An update on our situation since the car accident: My husband has had a lot of pain in his shoulder, they said it was dislocated, had torn muscles etc...doctors can't seem to agree. He was finally given a few sets of cortisone shots and is going to start physical therapy. He is also waiting for an mri approval for his lower back. I have had testing done on my back and have some herniated discs and am going through physical therapy (which is not working). I see an orthopedist next week and will probably get some shots of my own. We've had many sleepless nights and painful days but we are getting through. Baruch Hashem for His mercy and help in getting us through this tough time.
Should we be bitter when we have these circumstances hit us out of the blue? How do we handle it? Where does our strength come from?
I was just watching Jewishtv.org. They were talking about a passage (Malachi 3) that says G-d will sit like a refiner and purifier of silver. A silversmith will sit in front of the hot fire, and put the silver in the hottest part of the fire to refine it. He must hold it there and watch it so it gets taken out at the right time. If the silver stays in too long it gets destroyed. G-d watches us during our hot spots and holds us. The part I liked about this story is when the silversmith is asked when he knows the silver is done being refined. He says its simple: when he can see his reflection in the silver he knows it is purified.
When we go through a tough time-and we will for sure-we can feel comfort knowing G-d is holding our hand as we go through it. When the problem ends we can rest assured we may have been through a rough time but it was a time of purification. We will have learned something from it, gotten closer to G-d, close enough that he can see His reflection in us. Wow!
An update on our situation since the car accident: My husband has had a lot of pain in his shoulder, they said it was dislocated, had torn muscles etc...doctors can't seem to agree. He was finally given a few sets of cortisone shots and is going to start physical therapy. He is also waiting for an mri approval for his lower back. I have had testing done on my back and have some herniated discs and am going through physical therapy (which is not working). I see an orthopedist next week and will probably get some shots of my own. We've had many sleepless nights and painful days but we are getting through. Baruch Hashem for His mercy and help in getting us through this tough time.
Should we be bitter when we have these circumstances hit us out of the blue? How do we handle it? Where does our strength come from?
I was just watching Jewishtv.org. They were talking about a passage (Malachi 3) that says G-d will sit like a refiner and purifier of silver. A silversmith will sit in front of the hot fire, and put the silver in the hottest part of the fire to refine it. He must hold it there and watch it so it gets taken out at the right time. If the silver stays in too long it gets destroyed. G-d watches us during our hot spots and holds us. The part I liked about this story is when the silversmith is asked when he knows the silver is done being refined. He says its simple: when he can see his reflection in the silver he knows it is purified.
When we go through a tough time-and we will for sure-we can feel comfort knowing G-d is holding our hand as we go through it. When the problem ends we can rest assured we may have been through a rough time but it was a time of purification. We will have learned something from it, gotten closer to G-d, close enough that he can see His reflection in us. Wow!
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