What
or who are you rooted to?
In all areas of life we should be asking ourselves that question periodically, but specifically as we begin this new school year, we'd do well to take a look at our hearts and ask: what am I basing my confidence in as a homeschooling parent? Is it the perfect curriculum, daily schedule, weekly routine, or homeschool group? Or is it in the One Who called us to homeschool in the first place?
In all areas of life we should be asking ourselves that question periodically, but specifically as we begin this new school year, we'd do well to take a look at our hearts and ask: what am I basing my confidence in as a homeschooling parent? Is it the perfect curriculum, daily schedule, weekly routine, or homeschool group? Or is it in the One Who called us to homeschool in the first place?
Before our school year even starts, let's make sure we are rooting ourselves
and our families in Christ alone – that we are firmly planted in
His life and Word, drawing on Him only for strength and support each
day, trusting that He will uphold, sustain and grow our family
and us individually into the beautiful, unique reflections of Him
that He has ordained for us to be.
My husband and I were blessed to visit Olympic National Forest this summer, and
while we were there we learned about these incredible fallen trees
called “nurse logs.” As we walked through the forest, we noticed
these huge sleeping giants lying on the forest floor that now had other
trees sprouting up out of them!
 |
| a nurse log supporting new trees |
I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with the picture of Christ
that these nurse logs displayed – how He laid down His life for us,
and when we are firmly planted in Him through faith, He gives
us new life, sustains and empowers us to grow into new creations, and
as long as we remain rooted in Him we are able to do whatever good He
has called us to do.
So if you're feeling ill-equipped for the task
of homeschooling, that's okay – to some extent, we all are. But Christ is
not, and what He has called us to He will equip us for (Heb.13:20-21, Phil. 1:6, 4:13).
We don't need to worry, we need to stay
rooted in Him. That's the first of three little points I feel God
wants us to remember as we start this year together – first off...
Do
not worry.
- Our natural inclination as parents is to worry – what if we totally mess this homeschooling thing up? But if God is our school's Headmaster, if He is at the helm of our ship, we can't mess it up, no matter what the surface outcome looks like.
- This year, let's make it a goal to spend less time worrying (aren't there just endless things to worry about?), and more time praying. God delights to show Himself powerful in our lives, even in the seemingly little details (Phil. 4:6-7).
Seek
God.
- Instead of worrying, let's seek God together this year. Let's spend intentional time with Him, meditating on His Word and praying for Him to work powerfully in our own hearts to grow us into His image and lead us in our homeschooling.
- And as we seek Him, let's remember to rest in Him and...
Trust
that He has a good plan for your family.
- We will not all look the same – God is so good at variety! The forest is not all made up of the same type of tree, thankfully. On our trip to Washington, we noticed that in certain areas of heavy foresting, they went back and planted rows and rows of the same type of tree, and it was so monotonous, boring and just unnatural to look at compared to the organic way a forest grows, with all sorts of varying plants – spruces, firs, pines, ferns - intermingled together. Variety is part of what makes the forest beautiful, and it's what makes a community of believers beautiful, too. We are all different, yet we can each reflect a unique aspect of God and His character so that we can minister to each other in the specific way He designed us to. (1 Corin. 12:4-6). We should never compare ourselves with each other, but only glorify God for the way He is manifested uniquely in each of us (1 Corin. 12:18-20, 25-26).
- God is at work for our good and His glory – He's the Master Teacher and He has the best lesson plan ever already at work in our lives. Our job is to do our best in His strength to His glory, delight in Christ and His Word, and then to sit back and rest – firmly planted in Him (remember that nurse log?) - trusting that He will bring the fruit that we are toiling for in our families.
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
- Psalm 1: 1-3
Thank you so very much. May share this at the parent orientation for our homeschool community?
ReplyDelete