To the overwhelmed homeschooling mother

A younger, homeschooling mother wrote me today asking for advice on how to avoid burnout, feeling unfulfilled, and wondering how to stay the course to which she, in principle, is committed. I offer here a few suggestions:

Let me share with you the first scripture that comes to mind, in its context:

"Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. AND LET US NOT GROW WEARY WHILE DOING GOOD, FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP IF WE DO NOT LOSE HEART. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." ~Galatians 6:6--10

You are sowing. It is hard, often dusty, work. (I wish I could show you the lovely fruit I am enjoying in the lives of my own kids. And I have had my share, even recently, of self-doubt and certainty that I was ruining my children. Yet, God is faithful. He takes the seed we sow, even with tears, and He brings forth fruit that makes our hearts rejoice! Psalm 126. Hang on.)

Another scripture comes to mind,(blessed be God for the scriptures and for the Holy Spirit Who brings them to mind). I urge you to sit down, and if your kids need supervision, have them sit down with you and read to them Psalm 37. Meditate on it. (Do you realize that what you are about is not just educating your kids to please the state, but educating your kids to educate their kids to love God and to live in obedience before Him. Therefore, it is of great import that your kids see your own struggles to trust and obey. Because they, too, will struggle, and will need your godly example of how to wait on the Lord.) From Psalm 37:

Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.

Then, about feeling filled. Forget it. Peter and I had a wonderful conversation over breakfast out (HE took ME out today!) where we talked about how sometimes in ministering to others we realize that it has become all about us and not about Christ through us. So at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if we are humbled and empty, so to speak. What vessel do you reach for to serve freshly made food or to store leftovers? An empty one. That is the one that Christ uses. And HE does the using. No kudos to us. Read Philippians 2 and remember to "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." You've been called to die, Mary, if you are a Christ follower. You are laying down your life for His life repeated in your kids. I am sure that dying is never easy or fun or fulfilling. Christ emptied Himself of His glory for obedience' sake. "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." And what good shall come of our daily deaths, our laying down our lives? Is it that God will exalt us (He will); No. It is that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!

May God Himself refresh your faith as you dwell in the land and do good, dear Mary. May He strengthen you each night with sleep and give you the wisdom which you ask to know how to keep up with the demands of homeschooling.

Practically remember to keep the main thing the main thing. Teach your kids Matthew 6:33 and meditate upon that. (Once had a pastor point out to us that Christ told us what to do first: seek His kingdom and His righteousness. He never talks about what to do next!) So may your home be a place of worship, therefore joy. Be Bill's helper, make the home his castle and place of rest. Train his children to obey and respect. You won't be able to help them learning a whole lot more besides! Just live as a family. What is important for each day is that you wake praising God and delight throughout the day in Him and His gifts and lay your heads down in peace through Christ. In between are meals which you turn into covenantal affairs and times of instruction in the Word. And what else shall we do today? Perhaps the bathroom needs cleaning. And look at all the time we have to play and pursue the interests at hand--sometimes called school work! You might need to let go some good thing or other today or tomorrow in order to keep the main thing the main thing. But it won't matter at the end.

I hope these scriptures and these thoughts will refresh you. Rejoice in the Lord. He doesn't call you to a task too hard. Just hard. But He is with you and will help you. Don't lose heart. You will reap blessings from the mundane and overwhelming now. I love you.