In my last tip, I shared ways a homeschooling family can be a blessing to non-homeschooling friends and extended family.  Today I would like to take it just a step further.  How can you be a spiritual blessing to the the non-homeschoolers and to other homeschoolers in your life? 

I remember the day this concept hit me. I was expecting a baby, had just weaned a one year old, was busy keeping my pre-schooler busy each day while attempting to homeschool my (then undiagnosed) LD 5 year old and my dreamy, non-academic 7 year old.  An old friend, my former college roommate, had come for a visit in my home with her two sons.  As we were sitting on the couch talking, a very high maintenance neighbor dropped in.  After she left, I looked at my friend and said, “I would love to help her more, but right now, I just can’t.” I was shocked when my dear friend blamed my inability to help on the size of my family and the fact that none of them went to school part of the day. 

She didn’t mean to make me feel like I was being a bad Christian.  She was just stating what seemed to her to be the obvious. I began to over-commit my time and resources after that.  I thought that if I was in the choir, taking turns in the nursery, teaching a Sunday School class, making snacks for VBS, helping with large-scale productions, bringing my children to church for nearly every activity available that I would be serving my church family and my community.  

I am sure a few people benefited a little bit from what I did in those busy, busy, hectic, crazy, terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad years.  But my family suffered.  I remember hurrying my children into the car early one Saturday morning for a choir/play dress-rehearsal only to have Noah vomit all over his carseat and himself just as we reached the church.  I had to drag five little ones into the church and try to find someone to take over my responsibilities and then clean up the instant replay of the car event in the church corridor.  Then, I felt guilty for going home and tending to my sick toddler! 

YOU MUST put your own family FIRST, but you must serve your church family and your community too.  You and your family will have to prayerfully consider exactly how this will be demonstrated in your lives, but remember that if you are busy saving the whole world, you may be losing your own family.  And on the flip side, if you are making your family an idol, how can you show others to worship the One, True God?  

There are a lot of good things to do out there, but you and your family need to chose only the best. 

Remember also, that you do not need to physically be there every time the church doors are open!  You can still serve with your whole family from your home.  Avoid over-commitment, but don’t be isolated either!  Make a point of finding ways your family can work TOGETHER to bless others! 

Offer a meal to a family with a new baby:  Plan, Shop, Prepare, Clean-up and Deliver Together!

Extend Hospitality to Others: Invite, Clean, Prepare, Host Together!

Mow or do a neighbor's yard work... FOR FREE!  Little ones can pick up garbage or lawn debris,etc.

Note: Ask first…  some get offended!

Pray for others in your family prayer time and mention to them that you are doing so.  Ask for updates.

Remember the important events in other’s lives and celebrate with a card or a phone call! Think of what a cheering (though probably annoying) phone call my family members receive on their birthday with lots of loud singing from our family!

Use a skill you have to make something for someone.  I crochet and my girls are learning how to.  My husband has fixed brakes and such and is teaching our children all kinds of skills they can use to serve others!

Write a letter that includes drawings, poems and such from your children!

Start a family blog (or blogs) that you can use to bless others! Share a scriptures, poems, songs, etc. that you think the other will find significant.

Invite another family to study a book of the Bible along with your family.  We participated in Quiz Team with one other family last year and came together to study and practice weekly and had a great time of fellowship once every 4-6 weeks after each Quiz Meet!

Share extra produce or outgrown clothes with someone.

Always be ready to share the gospel.

Always be ready to encourage. 

 Above all else, LIVE OUT LOUD.  Try to make sure that your life and your family's life is reflecting what you are learning about the truths of God!  Be honest about your imperfect status and humbly share the joy of what God is teaching you in your daily walk. 

And remember: 

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6b

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

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