I'm finding that I have to learn the same things over and over again. I am amazed at how I learn something and I think I will never be the same again and then a year or so later, I come across the same thing and say, "OHHHH, yeah!!! I forgot about that!"
I did that with an article that I wrote for a homeschool support group that I used to lead. I was going through my old documents, reading some of the articles I wrote when I came across one titled Handwriting on the Wall. I wrote about what our priority should be when it comes to homeschooling. After a pregnancy, birth, new baby, and a new student in our school (our six-year-old, Jack), I was feeling the pressure of trying to get everything "done" (can that word REALLY be allowed in a homeschooling mom's vocabulary????) when this article reminded me to keep my kids and my vision pointed towards God.
But I guess God didn't think I remembered my lesson well enough. The kids and I are going through a "Read the Bible in a Year" plan. We just finished Exodus last week. When we got to Exodus 35 I was hit with another "OHHHH, yeah!" moment. Verses 30-35 say:
"And Moses said to the children of Israel, 'See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.
'And he has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver - those who do every work and those who design artistic works.'"
Sometimes I start to worry about if the kids will have the skills they need to get a job and support themselves and a family. I think about this mostly when I am reminded about the few outside activities our kids are involved in. Here in D/FW, kids are run ragged from one event to another, and that is just not mine and Darin's style. ;-) We want family time. We want dinners together. We want our kids to have something in common beyond Darin and me being their parents, and they can only get that if they spend time together schooling, playing, working, being bored....but I still have moments of doubt, when I wonder if we should take co-op classes, Tae Kwan Do, sports camps, church camps, music camps, plain ol' regular camps HA!
But God is good to remind me that He is in control. I know He created my children with a purpose in mind and that if Darin and I spend our time teaching our kids to seek Him, he will reward them and us with Himself and ultimately reveal His plan for our service and the skills to carry it out - one way or another. My Dad told me about a man who became a preacher, but didn't know how to read. Doh! That would be important! So he prayed and asked God to help him read, and God gave him the wisdom to read. Gladys Aylward wanted to be a missionary to China, but was kicked out of missionary school! Doh! But God had already given her the skills He wanted her to have as a missionary in China. She had been a maid in England, and when she finally arrived in China under her own steam, what did she do? Maid duty! Who knew????? So kewl!
Two great books that are a wonderful encouragement in this area are Safely Home by Tom Eldredge and When You Rise Up by R.C. Sproul, Jr. If you feel sometimes-inadequate as a homeschooling parent, these are the books to encourage you on your journey. I hope I have also encouraged you! :-)
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