Coming on the heels of St Valentine’s day last week our reading yesterday came from 1Corinthians. It reminded me of a wonderful essay written by Carole Thaxton of Konos:

I Corinthians 13 for Home Schooling Moms and Dads

By Carole Thaxton, co-author of KONOS Character Curriculum

Though I teach with the very best skills,
But do not have love,
I am just drawing attention to myself.
And if I have experience, and knowledge of all the best techniques, And test results proving my effectiveness, But do not have love, I am wasting my time. And if I work hard, sacrificing all my money, my time, and my energy But do not have love, It adds up to nothing.

The loving teacher is patient with her children, allowing them to learn according to their God-given temperaments and developmental rates. She is kind, treating her children respectfully. She does not compare herself with others. She does not brag about her accomplishments, and is not smug about teaching her own children. She does not try to be like anyone else, but acts appropriate to the way God made her. She is not irritable and pushy and insistent upon making her children fit into her lesson plans. She is more concerned with promoting truth and beauty than with criticizing those who do not. She perseveres in developing her own character, believing that God’s ways are always best. She is not a quitter.

Love never fails.
If there are creative ideas, they will be replaced.
If there are great curricula, they will be superseded.
If there are effective techniques, they will be improved.
All that we know now is only a part.
Only later will God reveal education at its best.
When I was a child, I had unrealistic expectations.
As an adult, I know better.

Now abideth faith, hope, and love, these three;
But the greatest of these is love.

Copyright – KONOS, Inc. 1989, 1999