And so, midway through this first year my normal tendency would be to list out what the girls have learned this past fall, report on their academic progress and how much I've enjoyed homeschooling....and the truth is: they have thrived and I do love schooling at home!! But, what I need to record first is what I've learned. I've learned that schooling at home has less to do with curriculum choices, transition from public/private school environments, emotions about not seeing friends (the girls and my own) each day and rather much, much more to do with my own heart and my own sin. Not exactly the most attractive reason to homeschool, right? Simply put though: the decision to home school for our family has been a decision that has exposed my deepest and ugliest sin problem: my own selfish desires for my wants, my needs and my feelings. These first 100 or so days have confirmed a quote that I heard back last summer: The books we choose are our curriculum; but the interruptions are God's curriculum. His plan always usurps our plan. And I'm choosing during this second half of our year to be more conscious about what those interruptions can teach the girls and I. What lessons and blessings are we missing because I'm just too anxious to move along or check a box on my lesson planner? Why do I perceive that the academic lessons are more important than the heart lessons? So, starting with my heart and with my own sin, I am confessing my tendency to avoid these interruptions and begin to view them as opportunities to die to myself and seek to be a better display of Christ to Nate and the girls. Lord, keep my eyes focused on you alone. Keep my heart surrendered so that I may continue rightly in our journey of humbly homeschooling.
