When the thought of homeschooling was just an inkling swimming around in my head, I asked a lot of questions. There were a few homeschooling moms that I knew, so I started with them. Most said the same things about why they decided to school at home and what their biggest struggles were. But one thing stood out to me the most. The women who really seemed to enjoy homeschooling, I mean really loved what they were doing, all encouraged me to find a homeschool support group.
A few months ago I was talking to a girl in my Sunday School class and she mentioned the Life Homeschool Group that she attends. She asked me to come as her guest sometime, but as the holidays approached and things got crazy, I didn’t have a chance to pencil it in on the calendar.
This past Sunday I approached her as class let out and asked when the January meeting would be held. She said it was on Tuesday and we made plans to go together.
Can I just say that it was the most supportive and encouraging 2 hours I have spent in a very long time? It was just awesome!!! We laughed so hard! I could definitely relate to stories of overstructured lessons plans, unshowered days, and feelings of inadequacy. These women were speakin’ my language and I immediately signed up as a member.
After going over some official business and having a devotion, we all grabbed bags of popcorn and cans of Diet Coke. They were showing a video clip from a homeschooling conference. I wish I could remember the speakers name because she was hilarious! But also very insightful.
One of the lessons she gave us came from the story of young David as he volunteered to fight the giant named Goliath. We all know how the story goes, but have you ever thought about how wise David was to refuse King Saul’s request to wear his armor?
Saul, as king, had great authority over David. He told him to wear the armor. David politely refused. Why? Because if he wore the heavy armor, he couldn’t do what God had commanded him to do. He was already equipped with all he needed.
How sad that we, as parents, do not understand this. How many times do we dress our kids for what we view as success? They need to learn this. They need to be involved with that. They should do it our way, because it’s the “right” way.
What if our children packed the same kind of wisdom as little David and said no? Do they have the insight to understand when we are unintentionally weighing them down, keeping them from doing what God has already equipped them to do? And more importantly, if they did, would we listen?
As I continued to think about this I wondered what kinds of expectations I’ve been placing on my kids that are, in a sense, weighing them down. God can use even the youngest of our children to bring Him glory. It must be so frustrating for Him when I place my own desires on them. Desires that keep them from doing all that He has already equipped them for.
3 Comments
Wow! That was a word fitly spoken! And very convicting I might add! Thanks for reminding me of the importance of training our little ones in the “they” should go!
Was it Ruth Martin? Graet post, Jodi. So glad you found a group.
My friend Laura Winn is in that group.
I love this post! But I am thinking back to my own childhood and remembering that it was I, not my parents, who put on SO MUCH
armor that weighed me down. Perhaps I needed more guidance/insight to save me from my worst enemy–myself! Does that make sense?