Tuesday, February 9, 2010

The Whole World In His Hands

Asher received a globe from his grandfather for Christmas. Chris and I were excited about it, but we didn't immediately realize just how excited Asher would be.

Excited was the wrong word. He is enchanted.

In the past two months, Asher has used his globe to:
  • Locate the North Pole, South Pole, and Equator,
  • Find where we live,
  • Identify each of the oceans and continents.
But, that was only the beginning.

The globe is now a source of constant fascination. It spends most of the day in the middle of the dining room table. I find that we refer to it often--it adds a tangible component to everyday conversations.

  •  We had a fun talk about the days when people thought the earth was flat, where Columbus was really trying to go when he "discovered" the New World, and why he thought sailing around the earth would be easier than going south around Africa.
  • As we studied the life of Hudson Taylor, missionary to China, we followed his travels on the globe. We discussed why, even though sailing from England to China was a long, hard journey, (no airplanes back then!) it was still preferable than traveling by land across all of Europe and Asia. Also, as Taylor founded China Inland Mission, we talked about what is meant by "coastal" and "inland" areas of a country.
  • Shortly after our study of Hudson Taylor, Asher randomly asked one morning, "Where are the Philippines? I told him to find China, go east into the Pacific Ocean, and start looking around. He found the Philippines within moments. He found Japan, too. It helps that he can read well.
  • Within the first couple days after the earthquake in Haiti, I was discussing with a friend plans he had to help in the evacuation effort. Asher planned his own rescue flight with his globe, charting a stop in Florida on the way down and a stop in Mexico on the way back. He drew it all out in the form of a map. It was quite remarkable.
  • Just this morning at breakfast, Asher read "product of Chile" on our carton of blueberries. When he asked what that meant (Acacia was sure it had something to do with hot peppers!), we found the long, skinny country on the west cost of South America. Colored green on the globe, we decided that it actually did look a lot like a chili pepper!
The most profound conversation I have had with my son surrounding his globe has been about east and west. First of all, we started at the south pole and "traveled" (with my finger) north, then south again, than north again. 

Then, we tried to do the same thing with east and west. Of course, it doesn't work.

Start heading east...keep going east...no matter how far you travel, or how many times you circle the globe, you will always be going east.

Start going west...same thing...you will always be going west.

Then, I explained to Asher, that God used east and west as a metaphor to show us what happens when Christ forgives us of our sins.

As far as the east is from the west, 
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12 (NASB)

It was one of those thrilling moments of sharing truth with my child where I said inside,

"Yes! This is why I do this! This is why I homeschool!

What's even more wonderful, is he actually seemed to "get it".

We serve such an amazing God! He created the universe and has the whole world in His hands, and yet He loves us so much that He would make us objects of His mercy and grace.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which you have ordained;

What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?

Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!

You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,

All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,

The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8:3-9

2 comments:

Melissa said...

you are a kindred spirit, Tiana...the globes my children got last year opened the same amazing doors for us!
What precious moments you are sharing with Asher! I hope there are many more to come in your family and that God uses your little 'global thinkers' in ways beyond your wildest dreams!

Janet said...

Tiana, I enjoyed reading this post. I know the joy of seeing the light bulb go on in our children's eyes when they grasp a timeless truth.

We have a daughter named Tiana; we haven't met anyone named Tiana before this, so it's nice to see your posts. Tiana will be 14 tomorrow. She is our 7th daughter, and a real joy to us.

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I'm a Stay-at-Home, Christian, "crunchy" mama. I have been blessed with the calling to be a godly wife and mother. I am passionate about bringing up my children in the discipline and instruction of the LORD, through home education and discipleship. Helpmeet to my best friend and soulmate, Christopher since 1/29/2000, and mama to four little blessings, including a tiny, precious, newborn baby girl.

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Thank goodness I was never sent to school...Beatrix Potter quote at DailyLearners.com
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Our Curriculum 2010-2011

Bible--Child's Story Bible by Catherine Vos, Apologia Biblical World View Book 1, "Who is God and Can I Really Know Him?"
Catechism-- "Training Hearts, Teaching Minds" by Starr Meade
Phonics--Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
(Kindergarten), Year 1 Booklist (1st Grade)
Handwriting--Bible Copywork, made using Educational Fontware
Spelling-- All About Spelling Level 1 (1st grade)
Math--Math-U-See Primer (Kindergarten) , Math-U-See Alpha (1st grade)
World History--Simply Charlotte Mason's Genesis Through Deuteronomy and Ancient Egypt
American History--The Light and The Glory For Children Series
Art--Interest-led projects and handicrafts
Geography and Missions-- "Hero Tales" by Dave and Neta Jackson, as well as various other missionary biographies, incorporating globe and map study
*We will be studying music and phy-ed., participating in a writing club and nature club, as well as attending various field trips, with our church's homeschool group.*

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