Homeschooling the Heart

Purpose:

In a world where there is a great tendency to blur what is right and what is wrong, it is vital for us to thoroughly understand what is right. With the increase of the speed and volume of communication, it is even more necessary that we become confident in our knowledge to be able to make the hundreds of judgments necessary each day. Instilling an understanding of what is right and wrong according to Scripture is essentially what Homeschooling the Heart intends to help you do.

Through this study, you encounter forty virtues, what they are, how to recognize them, why they are each important, and perhaps most profoundly, that they are meant to work together as a team. The goal of all virtue is to promote the greatest good, truth, and love. Isolating and idealizing some virtues while disregarding others can become a dreadful trap. We also can be easily misled by attitudes that appear to be virtuous but are really subtle distortions or not virtues at all. With so many obstacles, it is important that we arm our children and ourselves with clear understanding and confidence. These, though often left to the haphazard nature of life, should be addressed with order and clarity. The heart however comes best from just talking and living it out together (i.e. you). What I have created is your opportunity.

You will discover that this guide is designed to be flexible, serving as an outline for you to personalize to fit you and your own family’s needs. It is to be used at your discretion-- possibly as a supplemental to devotional time with read-aloud’s, as the basis of individual writing assignments, or as part of a unit study. With one verse and story/chapter each school day, there is generally enough material listed under each virtue to last a month. Please fill in the margins and empty spaces with more favorite verses, hymns, books, novels, and personal stories from your family, your experiences, or your imagination. Add away.

Topics covered:

Honesty, Gratitude, Obedience, Humility, Patience, Courage, Faith, Diligence, Modesty, Generosity, Contentment, Self-Control, Repentance, Kindness, Responsibility, Justice, Mercy, Respect, Perseverance, Joy, Trustworthiness, Loyalty, Forgiveness, Gentleness, Servant-hood, Hospitality, Peace, Charity, Duty, Hope, Wisdom, Faithfulness, Thoughtfulness, Honor, Vigilance, Earnestness, Submission, Integrity, Goodness, Chastity

Selections from the “Kindness” Chapter:

Kindness: Exhibition of openness of heart towards another

Synonyms: encouragement, benevolence, blessing

Antonyms/obstacles: cruelty, gossip, sarcasm, ridicule

Imitation: pleasantness

Hesitation: risk of being rejected

Selected Verses: Ezra 9:8-9, Prov. 27:17, Rom. 12:19-20, Titus 2:5, …plus 20 others

Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:32

Topic Introduction:

Kindness means showing someone that you care. If you really want someone to believe that you do care about him, you need to prove it by what you do: helping, hugging, giving, smiling, listening, praying, supporting. The best acts of kindness are those timed just right with what someone really needs, when he really needs it. Anything that perfect is good evidence of the Holy Spirit and powerful for everyone involved. Oddly enough, God often reserves us as the primary channel of His kindnesses. Even though it might not be well received, it is usually better to show you care than be sorry that you did not when you had the chance.

Literary Examples:

Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery

Black Beauty, Anna Sewell

The Family under the Bridge, Natalie Savage Carlson

“Little Drummer Boy”, Katherine Kennicott Davis

The Little Engine That Could, Watty Piper

The Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett

Make Way for Ducklings, Robert McCloskey

Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens

Silas Mariner, George Eliot

…plus 20 others

Activity Ideas: Do a “Random Acts of Kindness” campaign; Write an encouraging note

Additional Discussion Topics: Good Samaritan; Kindness to animals

Thought Provokers:

 Kindness is like taking a detour off your path of life to walk through the rough spots of someone else's with them. Make a “kindness” simile, too.

 How is being nice or pleasant different from being kind? What are the motivations of each? Give an example of how a nicety might be transformed into a kindness.

 Kindness is mysteriously powerful. Cite one Biblical example of how kindness saved a life and one of how kindness resulted in persecution.

 Sometimes kindness is doing something the person will not like but is really for his greater good. God frequently applies this but, in general, we should do it sparingly. Who else would have the responsibility of applying this “stern kindness” more frequently? (What occupations require this and when?) How do we know when we should or should not?

 One of the truest tests of a kindness is actually when it is rejected (where it is revealed not to be accomplishing a good). Are you offended by this revelation or are you willing to adjust your behavior to better bless the other? Give a real-life example of this contrast and what it implies.

 Sometimes the unexpected kindnesses are the most powerful. What kindness can you show to someone who does not deserve it or who does not expect it? Pray about it and then act on it within the next few days.