Tag Archives: coveting

Hints for Home Schoolers – If Onlyism

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It seems like only yesterday, that my children were all home and our days were very full.  What I can recall with great clarity, are the early years of home schooling.  We were alone in our home school – no HSLDA, no home school organizations.  Back then, the materials we purchased from A Beka Book were geared towards Christian schools – not home schools. 

i remember the day to day tenseness wherein i longed for “more time.”  if only i had more time in the day. . .

This thinking was not from the LORD!  It was my selfishness and pride taking over.  As a young wife and mother, (and new Christian) I was using the world’s standards to measure my life, my appearance, my children, our home, and our home school against.  There were days when I felt resentment towards my situation, thinking – “If only I could spend more time at the piano, I would be happier.” 

What about you – do you have a list of “if only’s?”  Let’s take a quick look at a short list of common “if only’s.”

  • If only we had a bigger house
  • If only I had help with the housework
  • If only the kids were spaced father apart
  • If only the kids were spaced closer together
  • In only we could afford all the home school materials we want
  • If only I had more energy
  • If only I had fewer children
  • If only I had more children
  • If only I could get organized
  • If only I felt adequate at teaching
  • If only my kids had a desire to learn
  • If only my kids would appreciate what I’m doing for them!

The underlying source of the “if only’s” is coveting. 

coveting = desiring something to the degree that  it disturbs your inner peace

keys

For me, the intense desire to play the piano was coveting to the nth degree.  While I knew that it was the LORD’s will for me to home school our children, the overweening call of the keyboard never has left me – even to this day.  It is obsession which must be beaten into submission on a daily basis.  Technically – it could be identified as idolatry as well.  People worship many different things.  Some are house proud, some will covet power and money, others desire fame and popularity, while some actually worship their children!

My singular “if only” problem is very, very sinful, because it demonstrates a lack of contentment to my family and the world at large.  Even if I devote all my time to playing only Christian music, that does not sanitize it.  Waking in the middle of the night and longing for an empty house in order to be able to play the piano at 2:00 am is not from the LORD, nor honoring to the talent He gave me.  The solution to the sin is surrender.  Full surrender to the Lord God Almighty.  And gratitude . . .

Won’t you join me in nailing your “if only” to the cross? 

Prayer:  Dear LORD, my failure is before me.  I confess to You that I have not been content, and I want to show a gratefulness towards You that my family and the rest of the world can see.  I see LORD, that what You have given me, is what You want me to have.  You are all sufficient for me.  I need nothing else. 

In Jesus precious name.  Amen. 

sparrows

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Uber thrifty washing machine lint filter!

orange bag

If you sometimes feel like you are feeding a small army – doubtless you at least occasionally buy produce in large bags.  Many of these bags, including potatoes and oranges, come in a bag that is half plastic and half mesh.  

The mesh at right is from a 10 lb. bag of oranges purchased at SAM’s Club.  The front is plastic, and the back is very strong mesh.

Simply cut the mesh from the bag, and toss or recycle the plastic part.

Fold it in half, and serge or sew three sides shut (one may not need sewing since it is the folded edge) leaving the top open.

lint strainer

Here is a completed strainer, this time made out of a Russet potato bag.  The strainer is attached to the washing machine drain hose with an extra long twist tie, which is very easy to remove, with the top inch or so folded over.  If you are using a regular sewing machine, do a double row of stitching for strength. 

We eat a lot of potatoes, and I am always especially happy with the yellow ones because our laundry room is yellow! 

Yet more thriftiness!

I have been buying from a wonderful Christian company called “Taylor’s Cutaways and Stuff,” for decades.  They sell velvet and satin remnants by the pound, and as I am a crazy quilter, this is a dream come true.  But that’s not all they sell!  Right now they are having a their fabulous BOGO cookbook sale!  22 pages of uber thrifty cookbooks to choose from!  Enjoy this delightful website . . .

http://taylorscutaways.com/programs/shop/estore.cgi?lst=1&lnd=12&category=Bargain_Cookbooks

1 Timothy 6:6-7

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Hints for Home Schoolers – Finding Forgiveness

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Oh – the high expectations we place on ourselves when we begin our home school journey! And. . oh . . .how we can beat ourselves up if we don’t meet our own expectations.

nest

When we lose our tempers for any reason, sometimes impatient, angry words can come out before we realize it. If the recipients of this anger are your children, you may have trouble forgiving yourself. Sometimes moms feel so terribly over their harsh words, they will even stop home schooling altogether, feeling they are not a good enough person to do this important job. It is essential that you recognize your sin in losing your temper. That is the first step – the second is to ask God’s forgiveness.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1: 9

The third important step is to ask your children’s forgiveness. Very important for you to be candid with them, to assure they understand that what you did was not right. This will teach your kids by example, to take responsibility when they are in the wrong.

flowers

Last but not least – forgive yourself. While some people can hold a grudge against someone else for the rest of their lives, in my experience, many mothers in particular, guilt themselves into a place of self doubt that can be incapacitating. When those days come along when nothing seems to be going well – ie: kids are whiny, the house is a mess, the laundry is piled up, you are behind schedule, you feel frumpy, mom-in-law or sister is critical . . .you know what I’m talking about! Follow the S-T-O-P procedure –

mom-with-bible

Sit down

Take deep breaths

Open your Bible

Pray

Are you going to screw up? Yes. Did I? Yes. Can you still get a good outcome? Absolutely!! Is there such a thing as a perfect home school? NO!

Which brings up the other area of possible reasons you may need to find forgiveness for. How much mental space do you devote to comparing yourself to others? Especially women you see on television, in magazines, know from church, internet, or your home school organization? Either way you come out in that comparison, either feeling superior or inferior – the actual act of comparison is wrong. The only One we should ever compare ourselves to is Jesus Christ – and have it be our life’s goal to be like Him in every way. Time spent comparing yourself and your home school to anyone different is akin to coveting. The apostles were guilty of making these kinds of comparisons, and were reprimanded by Christ. If things aren’t going smoothly for you – you may want to consider that you are being chastened for this very thing!

We don’t need to convince God of our sinfulness – we prove it to Him on a daily basis! Torturing yourself over something rash you said or did will not help you or your children. Bemoaning the seeming “inferiority” of your home school is dis-functional, while at the same token, luxuriating in your perceived “superior” home school is self- deception. Bad day today? Tomorrow is new!

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psalm 86: 5

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world-history

Favorite teaching tool –

I consider this item a must have in any home school. It is an astounding timeline of over six thousand years – showing incredible detail. My very learned father tried to sneak it into his suitcase when visiting one time! (I bought him his own copy for father’s day.)

Raised by a historian, you could imagine I might be a little picky about timelines, but I am unable to detect anything wrong with this chart. It is printed on stiff paperboard, folded accordion style in gorgeous coloration, and shows major world events as they occurred in different parts of the world concurrently! We used it in every grade level.

Magnificent! My highest recommendation. While I bought mine many years ago at a home school convention – it is easy enough to find on Amazon.