I Finally Found It!

A mentor mom, one who has helped me in my homeschool journey, told me that I needed a purpose for homeschooling.  Some want higher educational standards, others want to cater to special learning styles, others want to keep their moral standards.  What was my goal?  I knew it wasn't to raise genius kids, or that I thought the perfect curriculum would be better than a public or private school.  I searched the bible for a verse to lead me, and found an old stand by, "Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not part from it."  But, as true as that verse was, and how much I knew it to mean that our being the main influence of our children was God's will, it wasn't a goal for our children.  It was a promise to me as a mom, a comfort on my long days for sure, but I prayed for God to reveal the purpose He had to me.  He as always was faithful.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 1 John 1:4

That was it!  A simple one sentence verse from John!  How true this statement is for me.  If our children follow God's will for their lives, and His paths, then all else greatly pales in comparison.  What history curriculum we use, courses they study in high school, or class they take will pass away and be of little consequence as they move along through life, but the foundation of God's word and truth are what will be long lasting!  The scripture we memorize and write out, the character lessons that I teach, the service projects and joy that they learn in serving others; that is what I know to be long standing.  They will remember these things just as Proverbs tells me they will, and God has promised they will not turn from it when they are old.  I must be faithful to believe this promise, and pray that God will nurture them and that they will make good decisions, but the firm foundation I need to give them isn't one of academics, it is one based on God's word and truth.  Academics are important, but not the most important part of their education. It is all about perspective and end goals.  1 John 1:4 sums up all that my end goals for each of our children are.  That they love Jesus and walk the paths that God would have them go.

Too tired to finish this thought

  I love my children, my role as a wife and mother, and being home with our kids is a privilege. So, why am I so tired, run down, weepy, and plain exhausted?  No, I'm not pregnant lol.  I am just beat down right now.  Stress, short nights, and being needed 24/7 has drained me of all I feel like I can give and do today.  Do you ever have those days?  I mean, I know I can't just go on strike, so I pray for strength and persevere, but I am so tired I swear I could fall down right here and sleep for a week.  I would love to lay down in bed and cover my head, and stay there until Thursday.  But our life is busy and I have no time for down time for me.  Alright, I'm done whining about being tired.  I need to get up and pack lunches, make my grocery list, double check my Christmas list, and get the kitchen cleaned up from breakfast.  I want to scream out in frustration, sit and cry from exhaustion, and just step out of my busy schedule and pretend it doesn't exist today.  I won't but the thought is pretty tempting :)