This week I received an interesting e-mail from a friend.  It was a story that has been around through the e-mail cycles before, but the story is touching.  The story reads...

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." 
   
 
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
 
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
   
 
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.  
 
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.  He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. 

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says:  "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." 
 
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. 
 
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. 
 
The woman was silent for a moment.  Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" 

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it"

This week as I read this simple story I was reminded of many things.  I was reminded how the pressures of life are opportunities for growth in our relationship with the Lord Jesus, and opportunities for our character to become more like His.  This in itself is an awesome reminder of how much He loves us, for if He did not have such great love for us He would not care if we remained in our current state....angry, bitter, selfish, greedy, deceitful, etc.  The flaws He sees in us don't resemble Him or His character, but because He loves us He wants to remove those things that keep us from reflecting His perfect image.

I was also reminded that we as homeschooling parents can apply these thoughts to our homeschools.  We are given the responsibility to care for and provide for our children.  As homeschoolers we also feel the great responsibility to educate our children, but our responsibility goes far beyond that.  We have the privilege to teach (in both word and example) our children in such a way that leads them toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Beyond that God uses us as a tool to develop in our children those Christ -like qualities He desires them to have. 

I often worry about putting too much pressure on my children in many areas.  As a parent it is sometimes difficult to know how much is too much.  This story was a reminder to me that they need a little pressure in order to grow.  It's ok to require things of them that you know they are capable of doing.  Sometimes its ok to require them to move into something they are apprehensive about doing, or into an area where they fear failure.  With our love, support, and gentle guidance we can effectively lead our children, and in the process help them to grow in character as well as academically.  As He  "sits as a refiner of silver" in your life, and the lives of your children, remember that He never takes His eyes off of you.

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!