Daily Faithfulness

What this episode covers

Festina Lente, or Faithfulness part of the Education Is for Life series This series was inspired by Chrisopher Perrin’s great webinars on the principles of classical education. One of my favorites so far was his “deep dive” into the principle Festina Lente. Erasmus wrote of this proverb in his Adagia: If you weigh carefully the force and the sentiment of our proverb, its succinct brevity, how fertile it is, how serious, how beneficial, how applicable to every activity of life, you will easily come to the opinion that among the huge number of sayings you will find none of greater dignity. So, let’s apply this motto maybe not to every activity of life, but at least those that make up a large percentage of our days. These principles are for life – not just for schooling. I must admit, though, I was tempted to veer into school talk when I read Erasmus’ essay on Festina Lente, because he clearly sides with a “better late than early” mindset. If you’ve ever been tempted toward an “accelerated” mindset, read sections 28 & 29 in this short essay and be encouraged to not push your children before they are ready – early academics is not classical. Listen to this post: Festina Lente This phrase, Festina Lente, juxtaposes both briskness and plodding. We should make haste because we should not be stagnant or lethargic, but we also should go forward slowly because, as Erasmus put it, Things that are foreseen and provided for by slow and gentle forethought are safer than what is hurried into action by hot and hasty heads. So the maxim of festina lente opposes both laziness and impulsiveness. It requires both action and thought. It steers us from both sides of the ditch. Faithfulness A poem Cindy Rollins through the years has oft quoted is Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the beauteous land. And the little moments, humble though they may be, make the mighty ages of eternity. Most of what we as mothers do all day are little grains of sand: read a book, correct a child, make a meal, sweep a floor, change a diaper. Our days are full of small tasks, but their smallness does not mean they are insignificant. It is in these ways that we love our families. I think that the English word that summarizes this Latin motto is faithfulness: Faithful, adjective 1. strict or thorough in the performance of duty: a faithful worker. 2. true to one’s word, promises, vows, etc. 3. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant: faithful friends. 4. reliable, trusted, or believed. 5. adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate: Faithfulness doesn’t imply large, impressive deeds. Faithfulness is all about doing what’s in front of you – your own duty, however humble that is – reliably and earnestly. Faithfulness does not evaluate how a duty ranks in the public eye or whether or not the duty will earn credit; faithfulness steadily fulfills its calling. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2, ESV) Faithfulness at Home To make haste slowly in the home, I think, is to embrace routine, embrace maintenance, embrace the ongoing nature of the task. I have fought against this aspect of homemaking more than any other.

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