Every summer as I pack away last year's learning and look towards the coming year with hopeful anticipation, I begin to pray. I call on God to reveal a word of truth...a verse I can cling to for the coming school year. Because when the days get hard...and THEY WILL GET HARD...I can look to the Truth He has so graciously revealed to me and be encouraged to "finish the work" that He has called me to. (2 Corinthians 8:11a)
For several weeks, I have been continually drawn to Colossians 3:12-14 which reads,
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."As a homeschool mom, it is easy for me to point my gaze towards math facts and spelling lists...to want my children to master all the things that are in my perfectly crafted plan. But, if I fail to show them love...if in my rush to check off my lengthy list of "to dos" I lack compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, all my plate spinning will be in vain.
Pouring my life out daily in love for my husband and children should be the goal. School should never trump that. It should merely be a tool...an expression of love for them through service.
So, this year, I claim love.
I claim Colossians 3:12-14.
I know there will be many days when I will forget...when I will open my mouth and the "teaching of kindness [will not be] on my lips (Proverbs 31:26). In truth, I am a work in progress...a slow sheep.
But, I've written Colossians 3:12-14 in my personal verse pack and have stamped it on my heart. I will set it to memory and trust that God's word will be my constant...my TRUE NORTH...once again.
Lord, help me to extend the grace of Colossians 3:12-14 to my children...even on the hard days. Above all, help me remember to love.
For more thoughts on WHY and HOW to claim a verse for your homeschool year, be sure to check out my verse from last year.
Do you have a verse for your school year? Willing to share?
For more great verses for your homeschool year, be sure to head to iHomeschool Network.
Ours from last year (pre-k, and tot) was Galatians 6:9--Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season, you will reap a harvest if you DO NOT GIVE UP!
ReplyDeleteLove that. What a great verse for homeschooling...and parenting in general. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteKeep on keeping on mamas! You are doing Kingdom work.
ReplyDeleteI am out of this season now, and different things are hard now, but it is ALL good. God is good!
You are in the middle of God's will; you will survive, you will make it through! Keep on! Be encouraged!
God says, in Joshua 1, "I will not fail you or forsake you." (vs 5b)
Vs 6a, "Be strong and courageous."
Vs 7a, "Only be strong and very courageous."
In chapter 4, verse 21, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?'" Or, 'why are we doing what we
do, homeschooling, being kind, loving, encouraging, studying God's Word, etc?' Our response should be verse 24, "That all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever."
So, be encouraged, ch. 8:1, "Do not fear or be dismayed," and in 10:25, "Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous."
We may not be fighting a physical army as Joshua was, and I may have taken the verses out of context a bit, but I believe God wants us to be the same, strong and courageous, to not fear, to trust in Him, to rely on His ways, on His will. So, mamas, as you prepare for this new and upcoming homeschool year, do just this, and, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Prov. 3:5-6.
Love all you dear, sweet mamas. Continue on in the Faith.
Always Experiencing Him,
Jody
What a lovely pep talk, Jody. Thank you so much for reminding us of the REASONS we do this thing called homeschooling! It's lovely to hear from mommas who have passed through and have lived to tell the success stories.
DeleteI pray this same thing as I begin the year... for a specific nugget of truth from His word I can really cling to for the year. Just the other day He faithfully revealed this one to me for this coming year...short, sweet, simple, but oh so true: 1 Thessalonians 5:24 "The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." No matter how incapable I feel, He has called me to this, and only His power, His strength, His patience, Him through me can do it. He won't call me to something and leave me stranded... He calls and He also does. So this year, I claim dependency!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your continued encouragement in ways you'll never know!! <3
I looooove that one! What a great verse for the school year. Thanks so much for sharing it. I'm gonna go mark that one in my verse pack right now!
DeleteNeeded to hear that verse this morning! Thanks y'all!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. God bless.
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