Charlotte Mason’s Principles #16 & 17
Dear Mama,
In principle 16, Charlotte Mason introduces the common power struggle between the “two guides to moral and self-management”: the “Way of the Will” and the “ Way of the Reason”. These two guides are in constant conflict with each other, and we need to train ourselves and our children to think right in order to do right, even when it is hard.
In principle 17, Mason focuses on “The Way of the Will”. The Will chooses between right and wrong. All choices we make either bring us closer to God or pull us away from Him. When our Will is strong, we will be able to choose to do what is right, even if we don’t want to, and even when it’s hard. When our Will is weak, we may “follow our hearts”, which means doing whatever feels right in the moment. And that can lead us down a dark path.
For this reason, we must read the Bible daily with our children, for it is the foundation of all that is true, good, and beautiful.
We use the Bible to help strengthen our children’s Will and point them in the right direction. In addition to the Bible, we feed them a feast of knowledge by reading living books, poetry, studying art, listening to beautiful music, and spending time in nature.
We want our children to know what is good, to love what is good, and to have the strength to do what is good.
Every day, we recite the following motto, which is a variation of Mason’s, to help mold the Will. Here is our modification of it:
* I Am a Child of God.
* I Can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me.
* I Ought to trust in the Lord and obey His commands.
* I will choose to do what is right, even if it’s not what I want (even when it’s hard).
The purpose is to engrain these small anchors into their hearts and minds for when times get hard. We want to teach them to command their Will towards goodness.
This is what keeps us humble because it is when times get hard that we lean on God.
How to do you train your children’s Will?
Warmly,
Mirley
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