Archive for the ‘Renewal’ Category
In Defense of Frugality
When I came home with a $50 white dress adorned with a pin of buttons and lace, my mother questioned but didn’t press. The dress paraded to church and a banquet then hung in the closet collecting dust for years, a reminder of ten hours work poured out for a button broach.
I am not frugal because Oprah says I should be or because the economy is weak. I inherited the tendency, and my first impulse purchases completely converted me. Why work so hard for things that won’t last? Styles change. Things fade. I started shopping at garage sales and thrift stores. I became a scavenger.
It’s not as bad as it sounds. Our old house is nice by my standards. Our home will never grace the pages of a decorating magazine, but we are more than comfortable. In fact, we have an abundance of things. So many things that we crammed the station wagon with bags and boxes to haul away.
My husband still only works part-time. We do need to increase our income, but not so it can slip away in a quest for more stuff. The list of desires is long. We wait, and ideas come to bring resolution. Creativity seeps out, and we make do. Patience is stretched, and we grow…thankful.
Frugality is always a virtue. Without frugality none can become rich, and with it few would be poor.
Do we consider frugality a virtue? I think not. Else why would I struggle so to pull these words out? Why would I cringe to share my enjoyment of cast-offs? Why would I hesitate to share the ways God has blessed?
Living within our means is not a platitude. It must be done. Almost every day I hear someone fearful for their security. Others are struggling because they’ve been laid off. I hurt for them, with them. It is a difficult path. I walk trying to focus my eyes ahead and ignore the lure of silver buttons tempting me to buy, buy, buy.
Homeschool Utopia
It must be the end of the school year. Homeschool conventions lure. Advertisements for curriculum pile up on my desk. I flip colorful magazine pages reading descriptions. The sentences are full of promise. Amazing results: master difficult subjects easily, learn new languages fluently, teach multiple ages simply. Red pen scrawls circles around temptations and fingers press page corners toward the marks.
Tied to these note-filled pages are questions of fear and insecurity. Will we cover everything my children need to know? Will we finish math and English? What about Bible and science and art and history and penmanship and typing and Spanish and literature?
I gaze at the bookshelves surrounding my desk and see slow starts, abandoned plans, and half-finished textbooks. The little bits we’ve done create spindly knots that reach out to trip me.
Recently, I came across Sue Patrick’s Workbox System. Plastic boxes in a row pull even more than the curriculum reviews. Organizational bliss! I’ve read the rave reviews. I thought of ways to modify it, and I’m still thinking. Would this really work for us? It’s a good idea, but it’s just one idea. The real test is in continued implementation. It’s easy to start stuff. It takes tenacity to complete it. (That is why Bug’s math book still has fifty-four lessons left.)
It comes back to character. Always. And I’m not as persistent or patient as I like to imagine. The newness of homeschooling has worn off. Some of the fear has dissipated, but we must press on. I’m not ready to reject choices I already made because something might be better.
There is no perfect curriculum. There is no perfect implementation. Seeking homeschool utopia ends in defeat. A race run in circles beginning and ending with the heart.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23
Letting Go and Holding On
I’m pleased to introduce stargardener, a friend who encourages me with her thoughtfulness. I trust you will enjoy her post as much as I do. I need to hear this perspective often…
It has been said that life events occur in threes. Apparently that is the case for me regarding the crafting of family memory books. I am in the midst of organizing my photos as well as sending selected photos to my daughter as she compiles her scrapbooks and helping my mother sort through over 60 years of photographic memories as she and I create a visual and written history of our family.
photo credit: steepways
My own photo collection beckons me from a linen cabinet. Its size and scope seem a bit overwhelming at times — but alas, mere words cannot begin to describe the precious memories! Amid these boxes of years-in-pictures are trinkets and calendars, journals and fading handwritten notes of affection and discoveries from my three beloved children. The confines of that cabinet comfort me with evidence of the mother I wanted to be, but doubted too many times. It is visible reassurance that God was faithful to provide His Grace!
But for some reason, each time I take a run at sorting and (attempting organizing) this quasi-shrine of family memories, not much is accomplished. Oh, I pull out sections of photos and sort for a while, making notes regarding order and arrangement. Then, my mind wanders, lingering over the memories of family times, learning quests and so many special moments — and the presumed goal of the task loses its priority.
Another goal begins to surface, a much more important goal — beyond tangible organization. The desire to gather these memories in my heart for safe – keeping, enjoyment and encouragement for my children and grandchildren — and their children!
It just may be that the lingering part is the goal! Especially since the days of motherhood are brimming with activity, chores and pure adventure. Thus, once the full-time aspect of that role begins to diminish, a mother can revisit and savor days gone by. Just in time to make new and special memories as she celebrates her grandchildren! ;-)
Motherhood is a unique calling. Unique because even as we embrace our children — the memories and the opportunities to nurture them — we are also letting them go just a little bit at a time. Releasing them to the LORD according to the plans He has for them. (And sorting, lingering and organizing the memories within our hearts!)
stargardener currently enjoys semi-retirement from full-time motherhood and 18+ eclectic years of learning-at-home with her three children (and anxiously awaits the birth of her first grandbaby in July!). She delights in the country life with her husband as they feather their empty nest and make sure their three dogs (and one very independent cat!) get plenty of attention.
She blogs her “recipes” for sweet inspiration, treats of creative planning and pieces of dark-chocolate humor as she savors her Dessert Years!
Train Up a Child
This post is by Kris from Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
This proverb isn’t new to any of us who are Christian and it certainly isn’t new to Christian homeschooling moms. After all, it encapsulates, for many of us, both our homeschooling and child-rearing philosophies. Have you, however, ever given thought to it’s broader meaning?
If you’re like me, you’ve always thought of this proverb in light of Christian parenting — if you raise your child with Christian morals and values, he will carry those values into adulthood. However, I have had a broader view pointed out to me not once, but twice this week. The first time was by my pastor in church Sunday morning; the other was by Rebecca Ingram Powell in her book, Season of Change, which I was reading last night.
Both my pastor and Mrs. Powell, who is a homeschooling mom of three, pointed out that this verse can and should also refer to a child’s God-given talents, his natural giftings and bents. In that light, this verse should direct us not only to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, but also to encourage and support the natural giftings of our children. If a child is artistic, sign her up for art classes or make supplies readily available. If a child is athletic, provide opportunities to play sports and learn from talented coaches. If a child is musical, provide training and an instrument.
This can also refer to a child’s spiritual giftings. Is your child hospitable? Provide opportunities to open your home to friends and family. Does your child like to serve? Let her explore volunteer opportunities within your church and community. Is your child a teacher? Let him teach younger siblings or assist in a leadership role in church or scouting.
Part of our homeschool mission statement says,“Promoting family values, building the Christian faith, providing a quality education…changing the world, one homeschooled kid at a time.”
If we are really going change the world with and through our children, we have to “train them up in the way that they should go.”We have to recognize their God-given talents and equip them to fulfill the purpose for which He has called them. We have to emphasize their strengths and encourage their weaknesses. In so doing, we gift them with a lifetime of personal and professional fulfillment, whether their profession be that of a world-class Christian athlete or a loving mom whose mission field is her offspring. And, in so doing, we also fulfill a portion of God’s purpose for us, as Christian parents by raising our children to be all that He intended them to be.
Kris’s wit and personality show even in the title of her blog, Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. Go see what else she has to say. Consider clicking subscribe while you’re there.
Love Overcame Death
Love overcame death! My mind reels at the idea. I cannot recover. The invisible, internal churning grasps for the truth of the unseen. If angel wings brush the heavens, do they create light on this floating globe?
Astonished women caught a glimpse at a tomb centuries ago. Expecting death and decay, they found hope. Words came through the dazzling light,
Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. (Luke 24: 6)
Can you imagine? How long did it take for the words to settle into their souls? Terror to ecstatic joy in a sentence. The ladies pulled themselves away and carried the message to Jesus’ beloved friends. The men did not believe the nonsense.
But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened. (Luke 24: 12)
Peter. The one who had denied. The one who caught the gaze of Jesus as a rooster’s crow pierced his heart. He ran. I imagine he didn’t look back. His hope was tangled up with those burial clothes. Would Jesus forgive him? Would love be more powerful than death? Peter marveled at the answer.
I still marvel. And the tomb is still empty.
I hope your Resurrection Day was full of hope and wonder.
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We are preparing for a visit from Dylan’s mother, so I asked a few bloggers to fill in for me for the next two weeks. I’m constantly amazed by the ladies who encourage through their keyboards. I look forward to sharing their posts with you.
I will write as time permits. Mom hasn’t been here in four years, so we have lots of memory-making planned.
