Spiderman

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well" (Psalm 139:14).

We were expecting company one night for supper and were a long way from getting a meal prepared. In fact, I hadn't even bought the groceries yet. I decided a quick trip to the grocery store was necessary during our afternoon homeschool break to save myself from being unprepared for our evening guests.

When I returned home from the store, I noticed the house was unusually quiet. A red flag went off in my mind, and I checked on my children. Three of them were all fine and busy doing the work I had left for them. However, when I went into my oldest son's room, I found a surprise that was quite unbelievable. Even today, I am not quite sure how he managed to accomplish it.

We had been studying about spiders in our science lessons that week. He had read his workbook, answered his worksheet questions, and studied for his quiz the next day. He had even turned an old aquarium into a nice little home for two, big barn spiders he had found. Yet, today he went one step further. He wanted to know what it really felt like to be a spider. Using every spool of thread in my sewing can, he had weaved a web within his entire room. The web extended in all directions from the ceiling to the floor, and he really looked like a spider waiting for some unsuspecting prey as he sat on his bed in the middle of the room. Smiling, he quoted from Mary Howitt's poem, "Will you walk into my parlour?"

My first inclination was to be upset at the wasted thread, but then I had to smile at my son. He had done a far better job of teaching himself about spiders than I had done. In addition, I learned a valuable lesson that day. My son didn't learn like his sisters and brother. God had uniquely created him to learn differently. My lesson plans were going to have to change, and fast, to match him!

Father, what an awesome God You are! How can You create so many people in the world and not have even two who are alike? I humbly come and ask for the wisdom I need to teach each of the children You have given to me. Thank You for the unique blessing each one is to our homeschooling family. In Jesus' name, Amen.