RECENTLYI have a dear friend about ten years younger than I. She has five children ages 5-15 & she homeschools. They live in a big farm-style house on 100 acres. It warms my heart to picture her homeschooling her children. I think about how she bakes muffins, reads to her children, plays dress up, tends to all the "pets" they find on their land, memorizes Scripture and makes meals for her elderly neighbor. She doesn't necessarily do all those things everyday! Her children observe her serving others cheerfully and they, too, have become servants. Why do I write this? I write it because you are all doing that in one way or another. You are devoted to your families and to directing the education of your children. It warms my heart to read about all the wonderful things you are doing that are unique to your families.
Scripture commands us "to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn." We needn't ever be jealous when one family has discovered an important new method of homeschooling & all their children seem to be doing well. We should rejoice with them! We don't have to pattern our homeschool after there's. God has a unique plan for us & entrusted us with our children.
I thought about what the "broader" picture of rejoicing with those who rejoice is. Children who are home with their parents and are being trained by their parents can certainly affect the world in which you & I live! Have you ever been in a store or business & a young person has waited on you cheerfully? They dealt with you honestly and went the extra mile in helping you? Where did they learn to do that. Hopefully, at home! When we rejoice with others, we are encouraging them to stay the course. Anyone out there ever need encouragement? Ummm....how about me!
It is so easy to lose our focus & get into the comparison trap. Most of the time, what someone else is doing, may not work for us for many reasons. We can still rejoice that it works for them! I also want to mention that there are wonderfully trained public-school children whose parents care so I don't want to insinuate that we've got the market cornered on that. I know some of those children. We can rejoice with them also.
Are you a rejoicer? Are you a mourner? Do you pray for other homeschooled families? I need to have an attitude of rejoicing with other homeschoolers. It may truly be an encouragement to them.
Mish
Melissa
Mish