Daily Focus

"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).

I was on my daily walk and trying to organize my thoughts for a long homeschooling day. I stopped to observe the sunrise in the spring sky and noticed a large flock of geese heading north. Captivated by the sight, I laid down on the ground to watch their movements. Watching them fly in their traditional V shape, I observed the lead goose as he dropped back to find a new spot in the formation. The goose that had been directly behind him assumed the lead, and the entire group continued flying. Twice more, I saw the same process take place before the flock was completely out of sight....

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We never had a mascot for our homeschool, and my children never knew the excitement of school pep rallies. However, what we lacked in school spirit for team sports was made up by the Holy Spirit in Christian ministry. As we reached out to others, the presence and power of the Lord filled us to accomplish His will. Being used by the Lord and seeing His mighty power displayed was much more exciting than any football, baseball, or basketball game....

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Self-pity is a common temptation faced by many homeschooling parents. After all, we have such a heavy burden to bear, right? If the daily duties of homeschooling are not enough, we also face ridicule and a lack of appreciation for the hard work of teaching our children. Our martyr syndrome assumes we're the only ones who really care about our children's education. Foolishly we say, "No one else sacrifices or suffers for what they believe like we do." Sadly, we actually believe these lies from Satan and sink into homeschooling despair because of them....

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"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart" (Psalm 26:2).

When my four children reached long division in their math curriculum, several weeks of resistance and conflict resulted during our homeschooling days. The painstaking process seemed unending and laborious to my high-tech children. "Mom, why do we have to do this by hand?" they cried. "Why can't we just figure this out on the calculator?" Taking the time and effort to show their work on every quiz and test in division was even more agonizing. To them, the quick and easy method of using the calculator's brain instead of their own seemed the best answer to solving math computations....

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Do you realize how many homeschooling lessons can be learned from gardening? From biology to Bible, gardening provided our family more opportunities to learn truths than any other activity. Such was the case the year my son prepared to win the grand champion purple ribbon at the county fair with his homegrown vegetables....

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"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him" (Proverbs 18:13).

I learned an important homeschooling secret after many years of teaching — it's more important to ask the right questions than it is to give the right answers. Too many times I piled tons of information on my children that was neither of interest or necessary. My "be prepared" teaching philosophy, which attempted to include every detail on a subject, was burning out my children's love of learning. Clearly, one carefully worded question sparked my children's interest far more than providing all the answers....

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What labels have been placed on your children because they homeschool? During our years of homeschooling, my children faced innuendos that ranged from mental retardation to religious fanatic. Today, the media still portrays homeschoolers as naive, unfashionably dressed nerds. Even though studies prove the contrary, public educators also insist that homeschoolers are deprived of proper socialization. Why does the word "homeschooling" bring out such nastiness in people?...

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"For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found" (Luke 15:24a).

The day had started expectantly for our family as we left on a field trip to Denver, Colorado. My children were looking forward to visiting the planetarium and seeing artifacts and rocks on display at the museum of natural history. Wonderfully, the entire day had lived up to our hopeful expectations, and only one stop remained before beginning our long drive back home. With a time limit of one hour or less, my husband dropped us off at the Christian bookstore....

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Did you wake up this morning thinking, "Wow, what I do during our homeschooling today could shape the world?" Probably not, but that doesn't negate the fact that every homeschooling decision you make influences your child. Homeschooling parents can easily forget the important, long-term effect of their teaching and the potential it has to shape the world. Like a hybrid seed, God will someday use the academics you teach, the beliefs you instill, and the character you nurture in your child to change the world. Hundreds, if not thousands, of lives will feel the impact of your child's godly actions due to your faithfulness in homeschooling. Yes, what you do today as a homeschooling parent has a far-reaching effect and really does make a difference now and for eternity!...

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"Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee" (Psalm 143:8).

Walking saved my life as a homeschooling parent. Each morning before my spouse left for work, I spent one hour rejuvenating with prayer and exercise. As I walked, I listened to inspiring music, and God spoke to my heart with encouragement for the day. Negativity and discouragement from yesterday's problems were pounded out with each footstep, and the fresh air and beauty of God's sunrise were taken in with each stride to uplift my weary spirit. However, whenever I allowed laziness or other distractions to rob this morning routine, my attitude and our homeschooling day suffered greatly. My daily walk with God became my refuge and the most important time of the day....

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