I am often asked this question and then people fob me off with, "Oh your just so patient!" - I am not. Or, "you were born to do it!" I was born with a sinful nature nature just like everyone else. Or " You are just superwoman, I couldn't do it!" How these flippant comments annoy me! Homeschooling is a choice that my hubby and I made but it is not always an easy choice. So how do I cope? And is it worth the effort and sacrifice?
I have always home schooled and have 8 kids. Many times it has felt overwhelming, but please know that the rewards far out weight those moments and I am so grateful to God that I kept persevering. Why? I now see grown children studying out of the home who are well balanced and capable.....and just charming- in fact everything I could want in a very best friend. They are compassionate and balanced and more mature quite honestly than some adults I know. They reach out to others in need and tell them about God, pray for then and nurture them. They are friends with their younger sibling, peers and old people, atheists, Mormons, Muslims and people from many cultures and countries. I love being with them because they are such nice people and not just because they are my kids.
So now when I look at my littlest (3yo) and think, "how will I manage- I am getting to be so 'old'." I just laugh at myself and say to myself, "Silly old goose- haven't you learnt yet that God will provide?" And indeed He will and He does. Home schooling is something we cannot do on our own strength, we need God to strengthen us! And in case you think you think I am one of those super Moms, I am not....Many times I would far rather just take 'time out' to sit and blog or write a story or sew or do a zillion things of my own, but I chose to do them only when I have time left over which isn't that often! Yes, I do get frustrated with this, especially when I am half way through an exciting project. But I know it is my primary calling to serve God through my children first and foremost, it is the way I am called to be my husband's help meet. It is a sacrifice that I sometimes resist, and I am still learning to follow Jesus - His way not mine.
One special 'time out' I cannot do without is 'time out' with God and to my shame so often it is crowded out with 'things to do' . And that is my weakness together with feeling sorry for myself when there is so much to be grateful for! May God bless you and your family as you serve Him through them, Joy
Matthew 25: 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (ESV)
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