Passages for the Modern Accomplished Lady

Education: The knowledge or skill obtained or developed by a learning process

Learning: The act, process, or experience of gaining knowledge or skill

One privilege that modern times has given to us as women, is the ability to pursue and gain an education.  Back in days of the traditional accomplished lady, education was not an option.  They did not go to school beyond grade school, and if they did, they did not pursue careers beyond teaching in education in there communities.  However, the thing that inspires me about these traditional ladies is the fact that this did not stop them from engaging in life long education.  Though they did not have a certificate proving the level of their knowledge, many of them were highly educated.

The definition above states that education is, “the knowledge or skill obtained or developed by a learning process.”  Interesting that it did not say anything about a school.  Please understand that I think school is necessary, and indeed, it is desirable to obtain the highest schooling you can.  In fact I, myself, went to college.  What I am merely pointing out is that the root of education is learning. And by the definition above, learning cannot only be done by the act of attending school itself, but it is also done by a process, and by experience.

I know that there are many women out there who have put, and are putting aside their educational goals to be mothers.  I also know that there are many women who achieved their educational goals, and have made the choice to use their knowledge as mothers.  All over the world there are bright, brilliant minds raising a new generation, and imparting wisdom, both life, and academic.  These modern accomplished women, whether with certificates of graduation or not, are doing the best they can to engage in a cause they believe in.  They deserve a round of applause and yet no one is there to give it to them, and at times they wonder what it is all for.  I would venture to guess that if you are reading this, you are one of these women.  Here is the challenge for us all: TO ENGAGE OURSELVES IN LIFE LONG LEARNING.

Many of you may be thinking, “That is impossible, I am a mom and don’t have time to go back to school.”  Some of you may say, “I already have a PHD, so what else is there?”  Remember though, that I chose the word LEARNING, not EDUCATION. We need to engage ourselves in the act, process, and experience of learning.

 Again, let me say that I in NO WAY want to diminish the necessity of formal education, I am a firm believer in it, and know first hand the blessings that come from it.  However, this idea of life long learning has the potential to empower us with ability to keep our minds and lives engaged and full of purpose.

THE ACT OF LEARNING

It is true that time is limited as a mother.  Children need a lot of time and attention to feel love and to learn how to behave.  School may be on hold, not an option, or, for some that have gone on to achieve higher education, school may be a thing of the past.  However, each of us has the opportunity to engage in the ACT of learning.  We can take action and LEARN. 

My father is one of the most brilliant men I know.  He knows everything about everything, and can do almost anything.  He not only earns a living as a computer engineer, but he can fix cars, wood work, garden, take apart and rebuild a computer, fix anything around the house, is very knowledgeable about the bible and Christ’s gospel, and SOOOO MUCH MORE!  Now many of you may think I am biased, but he is actually GENUINELY GOOD at ALL of these things.   Of course, my father did not have the time to go to school in each of these subjects, but he studied each of them through reading.  He has A LOT of books, and reads about everything.   Although, it is important to point out that he doesn’t just read. He studies and practices until he KNOWS and UNDERSTANDS.

Growing up with that example, I have always known that if I wanted to learn how to do something, all I had to do was pick up a book and not just read it, but study it and understand it.  Ladies, we all have that opportunity.  We can learn how to do ANYTHING!  Just because school may be out of the question right now, doesn’t mean learning is out of the question.  What we offer up and store in our brain is up to us.  In fact, there are many things that I learned in school, that I don’t remember because sadly, I wasn’t engaged.   When we are engaged and truly study something until we KNOW it, it BELONGS to us.  No one can take away, or belittle the things that we KNOW. 

THE PROCESS OF LEARNING

This section is not about HOW we learn; that is not the angle of the process that I want to shed light on today.

Process: A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result.

To really engage in the PROCESS of learning, we have to realize that it is not ONE event, but a SERIES of events.   I think we get that confused because in the end, all our experiences do add up to bring about ONE RESULT.  So, true learning does not EVER stop.  Life itself IS the PROCESS.  All we learn, all we do, and all we know will add up to define our lives, which will ultimately bring about a result.   We must engage ourselves in the process and not check out during the years that we are mothers just because we are not “in school”.   In reality, school isn’t really the big picture.  That is not to say it is not needed; IT IS ESSENTIAL! That is why we must continue to be engaged in the act of learning.  But, in conjunction with our formal education, we have the SCHOOL OF LIFE!  The time we have here to prepare to meet God is our process. 

We don’t have to feel like we are giving things up, because all we do and are is the process of life.  One minute you’re a prom queen, or a scholar, etc, which prepares you to be a wife, a mother, and a grandmother.  All of these experiences are a part of the process to bring about becoming who God wants us to be.  Remember a couple of weeks ago we talked about making life all one thing?  This is a key to that, realize that life is a process, and the process is the point of life.  I think we want life to be made up of destinations.  For example, we will be happier when we are done with school, when we have a house, when we have a baby, etc.  BUT if we live for the future, we are checked out of the present.  Life is not a series of destinations leading to the BIG destination.  Life is learning or, “a series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result.”  Life is choices, and sacrifices, bringing about an eternal result.

THE EXPERIENCE OF LEARNING

We have talked about learning through books, and about how learning is a process.  We are also learning by experience.  We need to engage in every EXPERIENCE so that we can learn from it.  There are SO many lessons that can only be learned by experience.  For example, we only learn how to walk by actually getting up and trying.  We can’t walk just by reading a book, we actually have to experience it.  We only learn how to come back from tragedy by experiencing tragedy and moving forward.   These types of lessons, however, are only learned when people are looking for them.  We only see the application of experience when we are engaged in it.  So here is a question: Are we engaged in the experience of motherhood, or is it just the daily grind that we have to survive? Of course, we are not going to be perfectly engaged every moment of every day, but that is how we learn what it means to be engaged vs. disengaged.  Motherhood is a process. But can we do better?  Can we realize that this period in our lives is part of our education, and can we study it until we KNOW the value of it?  Can we gain not only an appreciation, but also KNOWLEDGE of what motherhood is about?  I think we DO know the answer to this one; thought provoking isn’t it?

Sisters, let us engage in a life of learning.  We can have every opportunity to learn and know as much as anyone else.  Motherhood only limits our learning potential if we let it.  Think of how much more we could pass on to our posterity and our communities if we would allow ourselves to reach our learning potential.  Thought provoking isn’t it?  Motherhood is as full, enriching, and educational as we want it to be.  We don’t have to wait until we have a PHD to be educated, and we shouldn’t let having a PHD be an excuse to check out of life.  We are in a life long school with endless possibilities for teaching and learning.  Let us make our educated contributions one simple lesson at a time.

Yours truly,

Tips on Life Long Learning


1. Pick something you want to learn, and learn by reading about it.  Study it, and try it until you know it.  


2. Think about the word process. Have a discussion with someone about what it means that life is a process.


3. Write down the things you have learned by experience.  Notice what blessings have come through these lessons.


4.  Write down the things you are learning now in life.  Whether it be through study, process, or experience.  Notice the simple accomplishment that comes from learning, and how those are things that will never leave you.