FAITH

I watched a delightful movie last night—I Am Sam—about the bond between a retarded father and seven-year-old daughter, Annie. When authorities gave Annie to foster parents, Annie and Sam had to fight with faith to maintain their relationship. Annie never gave up and wouldn’t let Sam give up.

Faith is a natural reality for a young child who knows happiness. Annie was loved by her father since birth. She couldn’t live without him, without his being present to her. Annie’s story made me think about children who haven’t been loved, haven’t found happiness, who don’t belong; children who are disruptive at home and in school, who do not have self-knowledge or faith in themselves.

Maria Montessori was concerned about these unhappy souls and found a way to bring them to happiness just as our Montessori guides work to do in their classrooms.

How does faith come to be if not naturally, as in Annie’s case who was loved from birth? We have to work for it. Maria Montessori called this activity child’s work—the work of becoming an adult, the work of receiving the gift of faith.

Have you watched a child build the pink tower or complete the metal geometric puzzles? The child has seen it done and will work to do it herself because she has the gift of faith. Faith is not giving-up, not quitting. Maria Montessori created an environment with materials and a method to allow children a way to self-knowledge and discernment to know faith—upon this rock will a new world be formed.

Please read my book, Montessori—Living the Good Life. www.montessoritheory.com