Charlotte Mason said, “The fatal mistake is in the notion that he must learn 'outlines', of the whole history… of the world. Let him, on the contrary, linger pleasantly over the history of a single man, a short period, until he thinks the thoughts of that man, is at home in the ways of the period. Though he is reading and thinking of the time of a single man, he is really getting intimately acquainted with the history of a whole nation for a whole age.”

I have read the quote that says learning isn’t filling a bucket but rather lighting a fire and I agree with it but…I still find myself with a set amount of information I want to fill my kids heads with!

This quote caught my attention because History is one of the areas that fill our bucket; so it was very applicable.  Am I happy to slow down our history reading if one of my children wants to linger?  I wonder if my children know that they have the freedom to read more about that particular person or period or subject?  I must talk to them about this and make sure that they understand that though we have a reading list that takes us chronologically through History if they want to stop and become more acquainted they may.

But as I think more on this quote of Charlotte Mason’s I start to see the word “Linger” – it is as if it is in large, bold, red print.  Linger!

I can feel the muscles in my back relaxing even as I contemplate the word!  I obviously need to linger.

I look over our days and they are fast paced.  There is a lot squeezed into every moment.  I don’t think we linger very well.

I am reminded of the verse that Peter and I have as “our verse” – it is posted at our front door – Ps 37: 3   Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

It goes on to say –  vs4 Delight yourself also in the Lord; And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass

Dwell in the land – that is lingering – I can only linger if I trust God. 

So Charlotte Mason’s quote has me thinking of slowing down in all our endeavours – to trust God in the very same.  To trust God with the things that fill our days.  Most of all, to Linger in God’s presence and get intimately acquainted with Him!