I've had a pretty good day, because this week I have taught math to my 8 year old every day this week! I know to some of you this may not seem like much of a miracle but, to me it is. I have been homeschooling 4 children (plus 1 "kindergartener") and somedays it just doesn't flow very well. But this week , I did it 5 days of math!!
Ahh, the pleasure of measurable success was seen!
My older 2 boys have been studying for their first Apologia Biology test and they've memorized some lengthy, complicated definitions...I think I've memorized them myself as I have been quizzing them for the last 3 days...the big test is on Tuesday. We are all worried! Recently, I realized that every time my kids take a test I feel as though I'm being tested too. It seems as though I am being tested on how well have I taught them. So, Tuesday afternoon should be interesting! I shall find out what kind of a day we shall have Wednesday after scoring the test on Tuesday evening! If the test goes well, Wednesday will be a success, if the test bombs....Wednesday will be....sober! For all of us, no one likes to bomb a test, especially the first one of the year! It is sometimes hard not to place my identity in my children. I feel a success when they do well and a doomed failure when they struggle. I am trying to keep my identity in Christ but every so often it shifts... It is like a play on a stage and the spotlight is on Jesus and the other players or "events" in my life take their cue from Christ and respond accordingly. But sometimes the spotlight shifts to another event in my life (or player on the stage) and everything else will take their cue from that player/event and the play of my life will become a mess, all off cue and erratic. I have to prayerfully place the spotlight bavk on Christ. I am learning more and more how to trust Him. (Do we ever fully "get it?") In my study of God's covenant, I have realized just how in control and sovereign God is. He is more concerned about the welfare of my children than I am! As long as I dedicate myself and children to God and pray for them & teach them according to His word I know God will take care of the rest! The history of what He has done for, and how he has loved, the children of Israel is a beautiful reminder of His care for the whole world! Even my little world! What does a Biology test actually matter in the end....very little!
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Oh Lord help me keep the spotlight of my life focused on You!
SILLY STORY: Children have an uncanny ability to catch you off guard and get a yes response out of you, saying yes to things you never intended to say yes to. My story: I had left the older children to care for the little ones while I was busy working in my home based business (I am a hairdresser) I told them that they could watch a pre-chosen (chosen by me) science video AFTER they cleaned up dinner. While I was engrossed in conversation with my customer a child bellowed a question down the stairs at me. I, barely taking the question in yelled back, "yes" after about 15 minutes I realized that I did not hear a droning scientific voice giving slide by slide commentary but a cat and mouse chase, including the silly music! I was about to pounce upstairs myself and replace "Tom & Jerry" with my pre-approved science video... but before I could zip upstairs my customer reminded me of the unintelligible bellow that had come from upstairs was actually, "Can we watch Tom & Jerry..." Dog gone it, they did it again! They slipped in the "Busy Question!" If you ask mom something when she's busy she won't be listening and she'll say yes! So...Tom & Jerry it was...I couldn't go back on my word, maybe we can hook it to science somehow...cat-carnivore, mouse-herbivore......let see, there MUST be a way to make it science |
