As we embark on a new year of home education, I am at once excited and overwhelmed. I love the start of school! Fresh new books, pencils, erasers, notebooks, all of it! I love being with my children each day, instead of sending them away to school.
However, this year, we will have a ninth grader, sixth grader, and a kindergartener. Upon hearing this news, one of my cousins quipped, "Those are the three biggest years of school, so good luck to them!" My first reaction was, "Great, what about ME?! I have to pull these three momentous grades off all by myself! "
Of course, nothing can be further from the truth. In the ten years we've home schooled, I've never pulled any of this off by myself. The Lord has graciously led me through this labor of love, and He alone will continue to uphold me.
Honestly, there have been times when I felt inadequate to keep going, and wondered if I should just send them to school. There have been times when I'd like to be alone for a little while! :) There have been times like this past spring, when all five of us had strep throat for three months. We felt like giving up and going back to bed each morning. We did school because we had to. But in the end, the Lord blessed our efforts and the children did very well on their standardized testing! God's grace, given for this labor of love.
There are many other times when the joy of learning is apparent, when the kids get excited over something and develop a passion for a particular subject... When a preschooler learns to read... When schedules are executed flawlessly, extra-curriculars happen, and we feel on top of the world. These are glorious times, but let's not forget why they are possible: God's grace, given for this labor of love.
This year, we are not entering the school year in the condition I'd prefer. I am still recuperating from a summer of terrible morning sickness, and then a miscarriage that left me very weak. Emotions still run high at times, and energy levels run low. But I love my children, and I'm so thankful for this opportunity --this gift-- to teach them, to be with them when the light-bulb moments happen, and to instruct them in the ways of the Lord. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing!
I am human. I'll make mistakes, but one thing is certain. God, our Father, will give grace in this labor of love.
However, this year, we will have a ninth grader, sixth grader, and a kindergartener. Upon hearing this news, one of my cousins quipped, "Those are the three biggest years of school, so good luck to them!" My first reaction was, "Great, what about ME?! I have to pull these three momentous grades off all by myself! "
Of course, nothing can be further from the truth. In the ten years we've home schooled, I've never pulled any of this off by myself. The Lord has graciously led me through this labor of love, and He alone will continue to uphold me.
Honestly, there have been times when I felt inadequate to keep going, and wondered if I should just send them to school. There have been times when I'd like to be alone for a little while! :) There have been times like this past spring, when all five of us had strep throat for three months. We felt like giving up and going back to bed each morning. We did school because we had to. But in the end, the Lord blessed our efforts and the children did very well on their standardized testing! God's grace, given for this labor of love.
There are many other times when the joy of learning is apparent, when the kids get excited over something and develop a passion for a particular subject... When a preschooler learns to read... When schedules are executed flawlessly, extra-curriculars happen, and we feel on top of the world. These are glorious times, but let's not forget why they are possible: God's grace, given for this labor of love.
This year, we are not entering the school year in the condition I'd prefer. I am still recuperating from a summer of terrible morning sickness, and then a miscarriage that left me very weak. Emotions still run high at times, and energy levels run low. But I love my children, and I'm so thankful for this opportunity --this gift-- to teach them, to be with them when the light-bulb moments happen, and to instruct them in the ways of the Lord. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing!
I am human. I'll make mistakes, but one thing is certain. God, our Father, will give grace in this labor of love.
"...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."
II Corinthians 12:9
For more posts on "Labor Day: Labors We Perform as Homeschoolers" please visit the Carnival of Homeschooling, hosted this week by Carol at Homeschool CPA!
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2 comments:
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. We have had three miscarriages.
It's so true that homeschooling is a labor of love. It's amazing how something can be so difficult and such a blessing at the same time!
Amen! I've meditated on that verse, too.
Blessings to you this school year. May God continue to fill you full of his grace.
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