As I mentioned the other day, we’ve been slammed by a lot of health issues lately. It almost seems like I could list one for every letter of the alphabet, but that would be too depressing. Instead, I want to think about some of the positive things that have come from it, like the things we’ve learned.
As a result of numerous doctor visits, my children now have a better understanding of their bodies and how the various organ systems work. They’ve always been the type to ask questions, and so, ask they have—I feel a little sorry for the doctor sometimes. But they are learning so much about the human body and how the health of one part affects the health of the whole. It’s amazing to me how much their vocabularies have grown, and the questions they’re asking are taking on a new depth that shows they understand what’s going on. This can only be helpful as they take steps toward recovery—when you understand why you’re sick, you can not only get well faster, but you can take steps to keep it from happening again.
In this way, we’ve been able to take our little detour away from everyday living and make it into a positive experience. We can do the same thing with every trial we encounter. Financial struggles can be used to teach children how to budget, how to be grateful for what they have, and how to work together as a team. The death of a relative can be used as a beautiful time to discuss love and family relationships and to work on developing the character strength to see them through a difficult time. The illness of a parent can be used to teach the children how to cook and clean to ease the workload.
When we are derailed by the unexpected, it’s so easy to let everything go by the wayside. But we can use every opportunity as a wonderful teaching platform for our children. We just need to be mindful of the possibilities.
Related Blogs:
What a Character! Character Building for Home Learners
Discipling Young Hearts: Remembering Our Charge
Preparing Your Child for the Cold and Flu Season