"Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh" (James 5:7b-8).
I think every parent secretly hopes his children will share his passions. My passion was gardening, but each year gardens came and went with only a limited interest from my older children. Yes, they enjoyed the flowers and the fresh vegetables, but I never saw that "look" in their eyes when they surveyed a freshly-tilled patch of ground. Years went by before God surprised me with my youngest son's interest. When he was old enough to start helping, I saw that far-off look that sees a future garden flourishing and yielding its fruit. I saw the excitement that says, "Let's try a new variety this year," or "Can we till up another patch of dirt to plant more?" For the next several years, my son and I happily pursued our "green thumbs" together....
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Daily Focus - March 2009
"The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me" (Psalm 118:6)?
If someone gave you a blank piece of paper and said, "Write down your greatest needs as a homeschooling parent," what would you write? Would you write a few short sentences, or would you fill the entire page with a huge list of items? As unique as each homeschooling parent's needs may be, if you truly look inside your heart, chances are you'll discover your deepest homeschooling needs are love, significance, and acceptance. These needs aren't easily met, however, since the world considers homeschoolers "different" and shies away in rejection. Even your own family can fail in giving you the encouraging positive feedback necessary in homeschooling. So, where do you go to fill your emotional void?...
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If someone gave you a blank piece of paper and said, "Write down your greatest needs as a homeschooling parent," what would you write? Would you write a few short sentences, or would you fill the entire page with a huge list of items? As unique as each homeschooling parent's needs may be, if you truly look inside your heart, chances are you'll discover your deepest homeschooling needs are love, significance, and acceptance. These needs aren't easily met, however, since the world considers homeschoolers "different" and shies away in rejection. Even your own family can fail in giving you the encouraging positive feedback necessary in homeschooling. So, where do you go to fill your emotional void?...
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"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12).
When people attain a measure of success in the public spotlight, what words do you normally hear them say when they are interviewed? That person usually says, "Because my ______________(fill in the blank — grandmother, mother, father, sister, friend, etc.) believed in me, I was able to accomplish what I've done." Amazingly, one person's faith in another person's ability inspires great achievement....
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When people attain a measure of success in the public spotlight, what words do you normally hear them say when they are interviewed? That person usually says, "Because my ______________(fill in the blank — grandmother, mother, father, sister, friend, etc.) believed in me, I was able to accomplish what I've done." Amazingly, one person's faith in another person's ability inspires great achievement....
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"And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all" (Mark 10:44).
I never encouraged competition between my four children while homeschooling, but it happened anyway. In fact, I only wanted my children to give their best each day and suggested forgetting grades altogether. However, their need to rate themselves against each other and also against other children their age dictated a request for a report card. Their human need to know where they were in the scheme of things filtered its way into their mindset and manifested itself during schoolwork. They simply had to know if they were smarter or better in a particular subject than their siblings or someone else....
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I never encouraged competition between my four children while homeschooling, but it happened anyway. In fact, I only wanted my children to give their best each day and suggested forgetting grades altogether. However, their need to rate themselves against each other and also against other children their age dictated a request for a report card. Their human need to know where they were in the scheme of things filtered its way into their mindset and manifested itself during schoolwork. They simply had to know if they were smarter or better in a particular subject than their siblings or someone else....
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"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it" (Matthew 16:25).
Sometimes learning a new skill and information requires a painstaking effort. Such was the case when my five-year-old son saw the new phonics chart hanging on the schoolroom wall. Looking at all the phonics rules he had to learn and memorize, my son looked at me with wide eyes and said, "Mommy, there's too many. Can't we skip some and just do the first ones?"...
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Sometimes learning a new skill and information requires a painstaking effort. Such was the case when my five-year-old son saw the new phonics chart hanging on the schoolroom wall. Looking at all the phonics rules he had to learn and memorize, my son looked at me with wide eyes and said, "Mommy, there's too many. Can't we skip some and just do the first ones?"...
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"Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase" (Proverbs 3:9).
Every year the daffodils were the first to push their green leaves through winter's cold earth in our flower bed. My daughter and I both looked forward to their annual spring arrival after homeschooling all winter. Not only were we blessed as the army of bright yellow blossoms began to form, but we anticipated the joy of sharing their beauty with others. Short on finances, giving away our daffodils was one simple, but welcomed way our homeschooling family could bring hope and love to family and friends. Our motivation to keep them fertilized and free of weeds came from the promise of future smiles we would see from those who would receive a bountiful bouquet....
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Every year the daffodils were the first to push their green leaves through winter's cold earth in our flower bed. My daughter and I both looked forward to their annual spring arrival after homeschooling all winter. Not only were we blessed as the army of bright yellow blossoms began to form, but we anticipated the joy of sharing their beauty with others. Short on finances, giving away our daffodils was one simple, but welcomed way our homeschooling family could bring hope and love to family and friends. Our motivation to keep them fertilized and free of weeds came from the promise of future smiles we would see from those who would receive a bountiful bouquet....
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"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).
Every spring after the snow thawed in the ditches near our home, the ugliness of winter's past sins would be revealed. An endless disarray of empty glass liquor bottles and aluminum beer cans lined both sides of our country road for more than a mile. Looking at the mess, my young son shook his head in disgust. "Mom," he said. "Why do they have to throw their garbage in our ditch?"...
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Every spring after the snow thawed in the ditches near our home, the ugliness of winter's past sins would be revealed. An endless disarray of empty glass liquor bottles and aluminum beer cans lined both sides of our country road for more than a mile. Looking at the mess, my young son shook his head in disgust. "Mom," he said. "Why do they have to throw their garbage in our ditch?"...
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