Aug. 10, 2007
Painful Insight
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In a few weeks I'll be doing a workshop for a Homeschool Family Camp. Each year I swear I'll never do it again, but here I am...doing it! I dread it because I know whatever my topics are, that is where the Lord will challenge our family. Sometimes I come before this wonderful group of homeschooling parents smelling like charcoal and looking a little singed by the "trial by fire" I've been through to bring the message to them. You would think by now I'd have topics like "how to nap" or "internet surfing for dummies". I'm not clever enough for that. This year my topics are: Legalism Pitfalls, Freedom within Boundaries and Being an Accountable Family! The first two I've done before so they are just reminding me of the things I need to shave off around the edges, but the Accountable Family one is my trial this year. My older daughters, 13 and 12, went to serve at Gleanings for the Hungry this week. My dear friend is a chaperone for the girls and has been giving me updates. I'm almost afraid to answer the phone at this point! Apparently since we're not getting the hint in the privacy of our own home, the Lord has seen fit to reveal our deficiencies in front of rest of the world while we get a running commentary through our correspondent on the field. And boy are we taking notes! Most of the issues have to do with being unwilling workers in the service of the Lord. Grumbling, being inconsiderate, selfishness and choosing friends over companionship with each other. My older daughter leaving out the younger one without any thought of her feelings. We've been using the Accountable Kids program to help with these issues with some success over the last few months. The goal of this program is to teach your children to hold themselves accountable rather having to have a parent nag to get them to do what is expected. The only real thing lacking in this program is the teaching of a good work ethic. We are simply telling our children they need to trudge through the muck of work so they can be done and go have fun. We enjoy when they play together at home but don't work on their hearts when they exclude each other when around friends. We're not instilling them a heart of joyful service and loyalty to one another. But how do you do that?! One thing we're going to begin, and I know this is probably common sense to most moms, is more family time. Not just "okay family game night, lets bond" but cleaning together, working together, serving together and growing together. Making the memories associated with cleaning, working and serving others and one another positive so that when they're out with friends who may try to influence them to exclude their siblings or goof off when they're supposed to be working, they'll have a desire to do the right thing because it feels good, not just because they're expected to. I'll keep you posted as we proceed with this plan over the next few weeks. The farther along the Path I walk the narrower it gets. Better lay off those cookies or I'll never get through! ~Annalisa |
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