The Pearls

I like a lot of the writings from Michael and Debbie Pearl. They are the founders of the No Greater Joy ministry. I received their magazine today and one of the articles popped out at me so I thought I would share it with you. It is written by their daughter.

Some of my favorite memories of growing up are of working beside my parents. I recall with pleasure working side by side with my mom in the kitchen, spilled flour on the floor and messy dough on our hands. "Just a good pinch of baking soda will make a cup of flour rise if you add a sour liquid," she would say. She would give me a reason for every ingredient that went into the bowl. Mom never followed recipes, so not everything she cooked turned out tasting just right, but then I would learn why, and what I could do to change it to make it be perfect the next time.
By the time I was 13 or 14 years old, I passed her up in the culinary department, especially when it came to using herbs for seasoning. Dad bragged on my cooking so much that Mom would have me season everything she cooked. It gave me ample opportunity to learn what herbs complemented certain foods best. I became a real chef. I simply LOVED to cook. I also learned another important lesson, and that was how to teach others. Mom's way of teaching made it natural for me to want to teach others. I remember vividly the pleasure I had after tasting, touching, smelling, mixing and cooking, and then hearing Dad's praise when something tasted wonderful. The same thrill I felt as a child comes back to me now when I am teaching others. Mom gave me two special gifts- cooking and, more importantly, the love of teaching.
Kids run off when they hear their parents say,
"OK, it's family time."
"OK, it's time for homeschool."
"OK, it's Bible-study time."
"OK, let's spend some quality time together. I want everyone to come into the living room and sit down." Just hearing those words are enough to zap the fun out of life and shut the brain down so it can't learn.
Real fellowship and teaching says, "Hey, who wants to help me make a delicious, fabulous, wild, fruit salad with real rose petals in it? - Shoshanna (Pearl) Easling

I just want to add my two cents. God's word, homeschooling, Bible study are all important but I think the biggest impact we can make on our kids is in the little things. The simple times of working side by side and conversation while we keep our hands busy. I can't tell you how much my girls have learned in the kitchen while we have canned, cooked, cleaned and just enjoyed being together. They have learned how to do these tasks and I try to make conversation about things that are of interest to them. I also try to pull the Lord into all that we do. It seems there are always ways to bring our faith and beliefs into the tasks that seem so mundane. I read an article one time that encouraged me to work along side of my kids instead of each going in seperate directions when we have housework to do. I don't always follow this but I try as often as I think of it to work at the kitchen together, then the living room together, etc........ instead of my doing the kitchen while one child does the livingroom and the other the bathroom. It makes the work go faster because you have several hands and GREAT conversation!