Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The One About How I Am Not a Teacher

Apparently I'm not a teacher.  Matt & I recently decided to become members of our church & in doing so, we had to take a spiritual gifts test.  My top 3 spiritual gifts were serving/ministry, encouraging & craftsmanship.  Teaching was #4.  I was shocked to say the least, but at the same time it made a lot of sense to me.  I always thought teaching was 'my thing' in a way.  I went to college to do it, but the whole time I felt I was in the wrong field.  I've always been more drawn to nursing or midwifery.  Turns out that is a great profession for someone who has the gift of serving/ministry.  That makes so much more sense to me now that I understand a bit more about who God created me to be.  It was like a light bulb going on! 

But what does that mean for homeschooling?  It explains why I've never fully enjoyed teaching.  I don't enjoy it as much as people think I do.  I'm good at it & I like to help out wherever I'm needed, but I'm not excited about it.  And I homeschool.  I realize you don't have to be a teacher to homeschool... but what happens when it's more frustrating to you than fun?  Which has been the case over the past few years.  I think I need to change my outlook on it as more of a ministry to my children & the children at CFS.  Then maybe I can start to enjoy it??

I'm not sure where the notion that I was a teacher started.  I think it was in my young teen years.  Maybe I was just expected to follow in Mom's footsteps. (Who, by the way, IS an awesome teacher.)  I kind of wish that I had followed my "heart" (i.e. God's prompting) and went to school to be a nurse or a midwife when I wanted to at 17.

2 comments:

Karen Scheffler said...

ahhh to follow the heart (God's prompting). and now as you homeschool you can listen with a different ear to your children, and they will be the better for the encouragement you give (your second gift : D ) to follow their heart (God's prompting)

Anonymous said...

Thanks Karen. I wish I could "like" your comment like on Facebook. :)