.png)
Chapter One, “Have a Heart for the Things of God” really hit me hard. You see, I thought I was already doing well in this department. As a homeschooler, I was fulfilling the requirements. But-was I fulfilling God's? I sat back and honestly asked myself.
My answer, was no.
Not that my husband hadn't been saying this to me for months-telling me perhaps we should throw academics out the window and concentrate on the Spiritual-to be received by my mouth agape in shock and horror.
Throw academics out the window?
I mean, my state says we have to teach the 3 R's, so I have to teach them! Right?
What about God's laws?
“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 11:18-19
Another verse says this-
“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:7 {emphasis mine}
Teach them diligently, disciple them!
Those 3 R's-drop them?
Perhaps for a time, a short season, a time to reset our priorities. And so we did. Focusing on advent readings and activities alone for a whole week. Not reading, no writing, and no arithmetic.
That week was enough, at least for now.
My changes come from chapter one, even though my thick skull should have listened to my husband months earlier. Or perhaps my proud heart? The one that knew so much more about this homeschooling walk than he ever could.
Seeing changes is not the same as making changes. Here are the changes made in our homeschool.
Step 1-I thanked the Lord for seeing my errors, and for letting my children and I live long enough to move in the right direction. I also asked for forgiveness for being so blind.
Step 2– Apologize to my sweet, supportive husband, for not trusting his God-given leadership.
Step 3– Books out the window (for us, just one week).
Step 4– Pray. For guidance, for direction, for an open heart to hear His response, and open eyes to see the path before me.
Step 5– Reprioritize. School now starts with prayer (as usual), our memory verse review (which usually only happens at dinner), and replacing copywork selections from our curriculum with our memory verses.
The changes made are great-but I must stay consistent-or the changes don't mean anything. I need to keep praying, keep striving to do better, keep seeking His will in our lives, in our school. I am grateful to be in the place we are now. Putting God first has brought much peace, a peace that a curriculum can never bring.
If you feel your life is out of order in priorities, I pray you will seek the “things of God” as well.
Samantha is a Christian homeschooling mom of six, married to Rick, her high school sweetheart. Rick was called to be a preacher, Samantha was called to homeschool, and loves blogging about their journey. She is interested in Bible study, photography, exercise, organizing, and sweet tea. You can find Samantha blogging at Sam's Noggin. She also writes for The Curriculum Choice Homemakers Challenge, Growing Your Homeschool, and the 3in30 Challenge.