The Joy of Accomplishment

One of the many strengths of homeschooling is the opportunity parents have to nurture their children’s gifts and interests. They can also prepare them for careers well-suited to those gifts and interests. As I looked back through my photos from our trip to Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, and Kaskaskia, Illinois, I thought about the artifacts early settlers left behind that give evidence of the different kinds of work they did. These people made in God’s image used what He made in the world to create objects useful to their families, to themselves, and to others. That’s exactly what people have been doing since the time of Adam and Eve, and it is what you are preparing your children to do.

Cooking*

Making yarn (French-style yarn winder, made in the 19th century by members of the Bolduc family and used into the early 20th century)*

Sewing*

Artifacts related to agriculture*

Clockmaking

Blacksmithing

Creating pottery

Cabinetry

Brickmaking and bricklaying

Salt mining (salt boiling kettle for obtaining salt from spring water)*

Cobbling shoes

Hatmaking

Lead mining*

Carpentry

Working as a trader and merchant*

Fur trapping

Wood carving (a panetière or bread box for storing a week’s worth of bread)*

Weaving

Home is an excellent place for children to learn the joy of using their talents, of accomplishing work, and of fulfilling responsibilities. Training your children to do those things will bless your children and bless many other people through them.

He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.
Proverbs 12:11

In all labor there is profit,
But mere talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 14:23

How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands,
You will be happy and it will be well with you.
Psalm 128:1-2

Note: Photos with an asterisk beside the caption are from the Centre for French Colonial Life which includes the Bolduc House.