{"id":1137,"date":"2022-09-13T06:00:46","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T10:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/?p=1137"},"modified":"2025-04-11T15:20:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T19:20:11","slug":"training-children-as-ministers-of-grace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/training-children-as-ministers-of-grace\/","title":{"rendered":"Training Children as Ministers of Grace"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;true&#8221; custom_padding_t=&#8221;30&#8243; custom_padding_b=&#8221;30&#8243; row_hide_sm=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_hide_md=&#8221;yes&#8221; row_hide_xs=&#8221;yes&#8221; css_zindex=&#8221;999&#8243; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1706735838147{background-color: #faf5eb !important;}&#8221;][vc_column]<div class=\"templatera_shortcode\"><div class=\"container-fluid row_section vc_row_cp_lr_15 vc_row_cp_t_0 vc_row_cp_b_0\"><div  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Mason<\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/blog\/\">Articles & Magazine<\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/the-ambleside-difference\/\">Video Series<\/a>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.sharepoint.com\/sites\/ASIAllMember\">Member Resources<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;true&#8221; custom_padding_t=&#8221;45&#8243; custom_padding_b=&#8221;45&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][vc_single_image source=&#8221;featured_image&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; img_size=&#8221;stretch&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"center\">Image courtesy of Ambleside School of Marion.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_separator width_in_percentages=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Download a PDF version of this article.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;15&#8243;][rdy_button text=&#8221;Download&#8221; margin_top=&#8221;0&#8243; margin_bottom=&#8221;0&#8243; background=&#8221;#a94425&#8243; background_hover=&#8221;#cd8029&#8243; border_radius=&#8221;0&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Famblesideschools.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F09%2FASI-Article-Training-Children-as-Ministers-of-Grace.pdf|target:_blank&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_separator width_in_percentages=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_column_text]Browse more Ambleside Schools International <strong>Resources<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_separator width_in_percentages=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;]<div class=\"templatera_shortcode\"><div class=\"container row_section vc_row_cp_lr_15 vc_row_cp_t_0\"><div  class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_column-gap-30 vc_row-6953b99ebb45e261657973\"   style=' text-align:left; z-index:0;'><div class=\"row-container container-fluid\"><div class=\"row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 vc_column_container_6953b99ebb52a118771069\" style=\"z-index:0\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_custom_heading_6953b99ebb65a215655562\" ><h5 style=\"font-size: 17px;color: #000000;text-align: left\"><span class=\"hilight\"  ><a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/resources\/\">Resource Library<\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div><div class=\"vc_empty_space  vc_empty_space_2\"   style=\"height: 10px\" ><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_custom_heading_6953b99ebb7d6592077612\" ><h5 style=\"font-size: 17px;color: #000000;text-align: left\"><span class=\"hilight\"  ><a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/charlotte-mason\/\">Charlotte M. Mason<\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div><div class=\"vc_empty_space  vc_empty_space_3\"   style=\"height: 10px\" ><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_custom_heading_6953b99ebb8fc596260067\" ><h5 style=\"font-size: 17px;color: #000000;text-align: left\"><span class=\"hilight\"  ><a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/blog\/\">Articles<\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div><div class=\"vc_empty_space  vc_empty_space_4\"   style=\"height: 10px\" ><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_custom_heading_6953b99ebba49895847229\" ><h5 style=\"font-size: 17px;color: #000000;text-align: left\"><span class=\"hilight\"  ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amblesideschools.com\/main\/educator-support\" target=\"_blank\">Members<\/a><\/span><\/h5><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/amblesideschools.org\/blog\/\"><span style=\"color: #003865;\">&gt; Return to Articles<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Training Children as Ministers of Grace&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h1|font_size:30|text_align:left|color:%23020202&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;15&#8243;][vc_separator width_in_percentages=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_column_text]Children are open to vanity as to all other evil dispositions possible to human nature. They must be educated to give and to help without any notion that to do so is goodness on their part. It is very easy to keep them in the attitude of mind natural to a child, that to serve is promotion to the person who serves for indeed he has no absolute claim to be in a position to pour benefits upon another. The child&#8217;s range of sympathy must be widened, his love must go out to far and near, rich and poor; distress abroad and distress at home should appeal to him equally; and always, he should give some manner of help <em>at real cost to himself<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\" align=\"right\">~ Charlotte Mason, <em>Parents and Children<\/em>, 66.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Charlotte Mason evokes several principles in her call for children to serve:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Service is a deliberate work<\/b> \u2013 <em>they must be educated<\/em>. Children must see adults serve and must be given some instructions on how to serve. What must a young person know about visiting the elderly at an assisted living home? How might they give? How might they help?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Service widens one\u2019s sympathy<\/b> &#8211; <em>love must go out to far and near, rich and poor; distress abroad and distress at home<\/em>. Children must be informed about the persons they are visiting. What are their distresses?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Service involves self-sacrifice<\/b> &#8211; <em>some manner of help at real cost to himself.<\/em> What is the personal cost? Discomfort? Time? Work?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>An Ambleside teacher shares his experience with service:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: .5in;\">Over the past school year, my ten- and eleven-year-old children have been going to a local nursing home once a month.\u00a0 There have been several interactions between students and residents that demonstrate the presence of God in these visits.\u00a0 I would like to share one such occurrence.\u00a0 The residents range in ability, some able to communicate well and others only able to utter a moan or move a few fingers.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: .5in;\">The first time we went I knew it would be uncomfortable for some of the students.\u00a0 Most <i>adults <\/i>have trouble being genuine at these places.\u00a0 Many students were shy and unwilling to touch the residents\u2019 hands or even the game pieces they had touched.\u00a0 When we got back to school after the first visit one boy asked why we went there.\u00a0 \u201cThey can barely stay awake,\u201d he said, with many other students agreeing. As a class we discussed these things not to win over the cynics but to ponder the legitimate question from the mind of a child. \u2018<i>What a glorious question for a young mind to struggle with<\/i>,\u2019 I thought to myself.\u00a0 The \u2018least of these\u2019 teachings given to us by the Savior had an application now, and we read several Scripture passages where Jesus cared for those whom others ignored.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>However, instead of thinking that it was our class caring for the \u2018least of these,\u2019 I discovered I was wrong.\u00a0A student new to our school had some past experiences with being bullied, and on random days he withdrew from others as a defense.\u00a0Our class happened to be visiting the elderly on one of these days.\u00a0When we arrived, this student tried to sit in the corner of the small room, away from everyone.\u00a0I called him to the hallway, where I saw his hands trembling and tears in his eyes on the verge of spilling over.\u00a0I did my best to help him regulate himself.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: .5in;\">To my surprise an elderly gentleman, who must\u2019ve been watching, called the boy over to sit next to him.\u00a0The man was kind and masterful at pulling the boy out of his anxious state.\u00a0He asked for help when he didn\u2019t need it, used the boy\u2019s name like he had known\u00a0him for years, and clapped wildly when my student won a round of the game of checkers. The friendliness of this stranger almost brought me to tears, especially when he looked up at me and winked, as if to say, \u2018<i>I\u2019ll help him out, Teach<\/i>!\u2019<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: .5in;\">As we prepared to leave, I allowed my students to take one last look at the fish in the fish tank. As the children enjoyed the fish, I went to the man and thanked him for his kindness. He shared that when he was a young man, he had been an educator in New England.\u00a0It was clear to me that he was passionate about the life he\u2019d lived, giving support and counsel to young people.\u00a0 He told me about two boys he had befriended while they were in middle school and how his friendship with them continues to this day. I would have enjoyed talking with him further, but I had to shorten the conversation to get back to my students. I thanked him again, and as I stood to go, I realized that it was the residents, even the invalids, who were serving us.\u00a0I went to each person and thanked him or her for engaging with the children and directed the students to do the same.\u00a0I watched as the students went around the room thanking the residents.\u00a0\u00a0It was not difficult to see that it was the elderly men and women who had been intentional to serve us that day.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: .5in;\">At the beginning of each visit, the students walk down the hall, find a seat next to a resident, and start playing a game, interacting, and just being with them.\u00a0 In the beginning, I thought we came to shine the light on those less fortunate than us.\u00a0 I pitied them for the monotonous days, lack of visitors, and having to be wheeled everywhere. But now I see how God\u2019s ways are so different yet much more perfect than our ways.\u00a0By coming to serve, we allowed these gentle and wise souls an opportunity to serve us, and in so doing, their sense of worth and value shone brightly in their countenance.\u00a0These ministers of grace, both young and old, are a revelation, a little glimpse, of the kingdom of Heaven here on earth.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_raw_html]JTVCeWFycHAlNUQ=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Charlotte Mason evokes several principles in her call for children to serve: Service is a deliberate work; service widens one\u2019s sympathy; and service involves self-sacrifice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,13],"tags":[88,152,208,125],"class_list":["post-1137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-philosophy","category-spiritual-formation","tag-charlotte-mason","tag-children","tag-grace","tag-training"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - 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