A part of wrapping up our school year includes a final review of the books we’ve read.
James tells me what he remembers about the books and I quickly write it down. He will also recite poems and Bible verses he’s learned, tell me what he learned from math, composers, artists, and sing the hymns we’ve learned.

Basically it’s our exams. Last year, I remember being excited about all the things he remembered from books we read months before. This year, I’m excited again. It’s fun to see the thoughts or impressions the books made on his mind.

We read Pilgrim’s Progress last fall. I read an 1895 version that Lee was given after he roofed someone’s garage. It was slightly falling apart, but it worked out fine.

Here’s what James told me about Pilgrim’s Progress today.

“A man is in a dream. He was trying to get to heaven and there were all these obstacles. There was a hole and his friend wanted to turn back but he kept going.
A man told him to go up a hill and he did but it was the wrong way so he had to go back.
Talkative talked about God but he didn’t believe in him. The Pilgrim’s name was Christian.
He lost his faith and he ended up sinking. Then he got his faith and didn’t sink. He was crossing the river to get to the Celestial City.
He ended up getting into heaven because he put his faith back into God.
I liked the part where he sank. I mean what idiot goes that far and loses his faith for nothing?”

He pretty much got the gist of the story. I cracked up at his last sentence, but it’s so true that many of us go so far and lose our faith for “nothing”.
Interesting that a small child can see how foolish that behavior is isn’t it?

Filed under: Encouragement, Homeschooling | 9 Thoughts Shared »