Do not be Anxious

Yesterday evening we celebrated the graduation of our nephew Michael. 

Time does have a way of making you feel old and hopeless.  

Hopeless I say because when your 35 and sitting in a crowd, listening to a 17/18 year old Valedictorian with a GPA of 5.61 tell their class to go out and live, to make the map of their lives and not to follow anyone else,well it can make you feel as if you're not living to the fullest extent.  If you're ever feeling down and depressed, just sneak into a High School graduation and you will have your Spirit renewed.  If by any chance you don't, you can still walk away with the fact that you tried.  

Seriously?

I came home thinking about my life.  What have I accomplished?  What am I going to let my children accomplish with my help?  

You see, as a homeschool family you don't have teacher's or a principal telling you what to do. In the State of Texas, you can basically teach your child anything.  As long as you teach Good citizenship, math, reading, spelling and grammar then you're pretty much covered. 

The Skies the Limit when it comes to homeschool. 

Or maybe not.   

In a way I felt defeated. In a way I felt like I needed to do something more next year. Another language program?  More lessons on History?  What about adding in Latin this year?  I know we tried that and the kids wanted Spanish, but I want my kids to be Super Smart!!!!! I bark at D.J. telling him that he has 2 years to be at the top ten percent.  All I get is a "Mom, that's impossible!"

Then, I take a deep breathe and David comes to the rescue.  Oh, God, How I need the voice of wisdom in my life.  

He always finds a way to make me come back off my cloud of hopelessness into the cloud of hope and love.  Every time I'm feeling down, he lifts me up and places me on this cloud that I always long for.  

You see, we all have insecurities.  We all want the best for our children. We want them to succeed, to live a life of happiness and most importantly, come to a faith in Christ that will guide them all the days of their lives. 

What we don't see is that just by us being there in their lives is sufficient.  When I walk in the door after a long day at work, the kids are just happy to know that I am home.  Even if I'm just sitting on the couch reading a book, they know they are safe. I don't have to be teaching them a lesson every chance I get. Which by the way, I love to teach so it's so hard for me to just sit and read.  I spend my alone time with Yoga or Running. 

If it were up to me we would be having school 24/7. You get the picture?  Then, my mind wanders back to scripture where God tells me not to be anxious about anything, but in everything through thanksgiving and praise present our requests to Him and  He will guide our hearts and our minds.  

He.  

No where in that verse does it say Me.  

He alone can calm all our anxious thoughts.

He alone can bring us into his presence where we experience Peace.  

So, as I venture next year into another year of homeschooling, I can always be reminded that He alone is working in my children's lives. One day they will graduate and have a speech of their own that will make this Mama feel loved and appreciated, not hopeless.  

Congratulations Class of 2013!!!

Until Next Time, 

Eat Organic!

Eat Gluten-Free!

Jennifer