"I don't have the patience to homeschool." 

Have you ever heard that statement before?  I was told that recently, by a sales person who asked us if we homeschooled.  She said she wished she could have done it. She had several other reasons why she could never homeschool----some of them perfectly legit, but some were just excuses. ( Forgive me if I seem like I know it all, I don't, this is just my humble opinion.)

I told her that you don't have to have patience to homeschool, but like anything else, you will improve in the area of patience, if that is what you need. 

You probably have heard that if you pray for patience, watch out!  It is the trials in our lives that produce patience.

  Well, I believe that is true to a degree, but the Bible says that patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit.  (Galatians 5:22)  So, if you have a heart seeking hard after the Lord, then He will produce the fruit in you, His fruit.

And one of those is patience. 

Now, here is another statement I heard recently:

"You must really sacrifice yourself and your time to teach all those kids at home."

This was a really well meaning, nice lady who told me this.  She somehow recognized that we were homeschoolers.  I don't know why she would have equated us with homeschooling.  We were disheveled, our clothing didn't match---we had paint splotches on us in various places.  (We have been painting the house.)  My youngest son had his shoes untied.  (And he knows how to do that!)  And lets see, part of the kids needed a bath.  Or parts of some of the kids needed a bath.  LOL.  Actually, she did say that they looked like a bunch of happy kids, so they must be homeschooled.  Aahhhh.  I guess that works for me!

You know, I don't look at this as a sacrifice.  It only seems like that to me when I am battling selfishness.  Homeschooling to me, not to be cliche or anything, but it is everyday life.  This is just child-rearing.  This is my job.  It is what I am called to do. 

The Lord said to obey is better than sacrifice, and I am trying my best (and failing at times) to obey  His word.  And so I am not to be put up on a pedestal for homeschooling or not homeschooling my kids.  I am doing what I can, at times it's not my best, but it's mine to do.  It's the day-by-day working with and raising up and partnering with Christ (and my husband) on how these kids are to be dealt with. The Lord God created them, gave them to us for a short while and we need to do what we can while we can.

  But we aren't perfect, and neither are our kids.  We are doing the best we can, and by golly, we are enjoying it at times..........and at other times, not.

But this is life.  Yea tho we walk through the valley.......but then sometimes we will shout from the mountaintop!  There is an ebb and flow of life, and we are just doing what we believe is right.  Whatever the circumstances are.  It's all right there in the Word.

"These things I have commanded you...."

So, does this mean that we are not to be praised at all for what we are doing with our children?  It's nice to hear good things.  But there is one whose opinion really matters, the one who put us to the task in the first place. If I am constantly at odds with my job as a mother who is teaching my little ones character, and the three "R's", then it may feel like a sacrifce, but only because of my own sin. 

There is JOY in obedience!  And this, is one more fruit of the Spirit, along with patience, that I will bear as I seek the Lord. 

Stop sacrificing, and start seeking----and obeying.  Doesn't it sound wonderful?

So before you put me up on that pedestal, or anyone for that matter, think about this:  I don't want to be up there.  In fact, I want to decrease, so He may increase.

A seed has to fall  to the ground and die before it will grow, and then if the conditions are right and the gardner does the proper tending.....it will produce fruit.

So stop sacrificing, and start obeying......and there are a whole lot of "fruits" waiting for you in that basket of blessings.  We can bear much more than just patience and joy, there is also love, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control...

doesn't that sound wonderful?

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy