Steadfast and Immovable!

After a couple of really hard weeks of homeschooling, and feeling like I was ready to throw in the towel and send all of my kids away forever( or just to school),while talking with a friend and then in sequence listening to a byu devotional talk by Elder Bednar http://www.byub.org/talks/transcripts/idevo/2003/9/idevo200399-1121.pdf,  I was really touched by the spirit to know that my choice to homeschool was right for my family. I'll be the first to admit that homeschooling, is one of the most joyful and painful of experiences. I would also propose that being a mom is in that same category, just because you are not homeschooling doesn't mean you aren't teaching your kids every day either by the choice of your actions or just by default.
Through my experience in homeschooling, I have found out that it is either really great, or really awful.
 There is a secret to having really great days that I have learned and would like to share. This is inspiration for me and my family so it may not be right for any of you, yet I couldn't let this advice to me not be written for others to read, however few of you there are.

First off, I have to remember that each one of my kids is a Child of God. Each one has divine potential that Heavenly Father sees and knows how to bring about greatness in each one of them. It is His work and glory to bring about their immortality and their eternal life. Remember that eternal life is the kind of life that God Lives! Who wouldn't want that for their kids.

Second, I am just the facilitator in this work. I am to nurture and teach each child. To love them and care for them in a way that no one else in this world can do for them. I am their mother. What a noble role this is.  No one can take my place.

Third, As their mother I am entitled to inspiration on their behalf from a loving Heavenly Father about how to best help each child achieve greatness in the most loving way. The way that is easiest for each child to grow and develop, to become the man or woman that God needs on earth at this particular time.

Fourth, If I am not teaching how Heavenly Father wants me to and with his blessing, life in our homeschool goes on, but it is the spirit that makes us thrive. If I trust in myself, or in the arm of flesh about what someone else says is best for my kids, and not in what Heavenly Father says is best, then things are usually good, but their is a better and a best. I want the best for my kids. When I meet my Savior and He asks me what I did with these sweet spirits He sent to our home, I want to be able to answer Him that I did His will. Not my own.

Of course this is a process, one of which I am still working on every day. Since I am not perfect, things aren't perfect around here and that is when if allowed, the fear begins to set in. What if they aren't good enough? What if they never learn to spell? What if they never learn to divide, or do fractions? Or whatever......?

When I begin to fear man and what he thinks of what we are doing, I begin to fail. It is then that I have put my trust in what man deems is best for the kids, instead of what God deems is best for my kids. That is the key, to trust in God, not man. In todays world of experts, that can be increasingly difficult. Everyone is an expert on something, and they are always offering advice, its my job to filter through that and compare with what Heavenly Father has said on such matters.

Every year at the beginning of the school season we each have a priesthood blessing. This year was really amazing to me. This was the first year that I was told what to teach, as well as each one of my kids were told what to focus on. What an amazing experience that was. The STUPID thing was I had this great experience and then began school without changing what we were doing last year, thinking that it would work for this year. Boy was I wrong! We really do have a loving Heavenly Father who cares about each one of us and knows us individually. He knows what we need to learn, and when in order for us to make it back to Him. We are still learning the 3 R's, but we are striving to change our focus to what our Heavenly Father wants us to learn right now. What stories are most important for my kids to read? What character traits do they need to develop? As I have sincerely asked and pondered these question's, I am so grateful for the outpouring of the spirit that tells me I am doing the right thing. What a wonderful feeling it is to be teaching your kids and feel the spirit so strong in our home. The greatest thing about it is, I now understand that school truly does look differently in every home. This is a great blessing to me, mostly because it stops me from comparing myself and my kids to others. Instead, I get to measure myself and my kids against what Heavenly Father thinks of us. By being steadfast and immovable we are able to move forward having faith in our relationship with our Father in Heaven, or feeling that there are some things that really need changing.  What a sobering thing that is. I know I have alot of work to do still, yet I know that with God all things Truly are possible.
Isn't this what the gospel is all about, helping each other be the best we can be. Working together through families to be strong and immovable, always abounding in good works and firm in the faith of Jesus Christ.