Posted in Homeschooling with a Meek & Quiet Spirit
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"...I deeply desired a meek and quiet spirit to replace the irritable, impatient, sometimes even angry one I was displaying." In this chapter Terri talks about her early years BH (before homeschooling) when she was one of those mothers who just couldn't wait to get her 3 children off to school (yep, been there!) to her first day as a homeschooling mom, sitting down to help her 7 year old son with his reading, which he had been struggling with at school..."By the end of those first 15 minutes of my dream homeschooling life, I had become a very frustrated mother. I was close to tears. Rather than being patient and loving, I had been short and irritable. I expected my son to sound out the very words he had struggled with at school!" Do you relate? I do (much to my chagrin). After all, one (of the many!) reasons we started to homeschool, was because it (public school - PS) was not the best learning environment for our son (now almost 8, he spent 18 months at PS before coming home) and yet, I allow myself to get frustrated and irritated with him at times, because he is still struggling with his reading...on the one hand, I am happy for him to come along at his own pace, his love of reading being far more important to me than being able to "brag" that he is a great reader...and yet... Terri goes on to say how the Lord showed her that her reactions during these reading sessions where sinful... "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) I know I am not showing love (mine or the Lords!) in my speech and actions, when I allow myself to become irritated, short and sometimes angry at my family (whether I may be "justified" or not). I also feel convicted that I need to say many more positive things to my children (and my husband!) I am very quick to point out the wrongs of others and, at times, I have a critical spirit. I am also very hard on myself. I know (and freely admit) my faults (most of them anyway ;-) but I need to have more grace, both for myself and for others, and I need to remember to praise the postitive things far more than I point out the negative. I know that I cannot change on my own. But I can change with the help of my Lord Jesus Christ, by whose blood I am cleansed from all sin, and who can help to overcome my sinful nature. Let me share with you a couple of verses that I am clinging to, as I endeavour to change myself: "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"...for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 Love & blessings
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