Homeschooler Beating the January Blahs

Can you believe that we have less than 4 months left of this school year? January is usually one of those tougher months because we need to be reminded why we do what we do. 

Let me help you while I help myself: You are homeschooling because you want to offer your children an excellent education founded on values and principles that you strongly believe in. You homeschool because it is your calling and God promises that He equips those He calls.  

 BUT, we know it isn't easy… We know we all question our insanity at times… Maybe we even gaze longingly at that yellow school bus when it goes by the window!   

 Yes, imagine you weren’t homeschooling.  Wouldn't you miss the late breakfasts together?  Wouldn't you miss the conversations about why God even made math and the steady stream of "How do you spell....."?  ( O.k., maybe you would at least miss staying in your P.J.'s until the greater part of the day?!)

In times like these, I am reminded of King David who gave his soul a pep talk.  Yes, he talked to himself.   Before you start to chalk that up to insanity, let me give you what he said in the Psalms," why so downcast O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation." (NKJV, Ps. 42.5)   Do you think he wrote that after a day of homeschooling Absalom?!  Ha! 

Seriously, in the midst of the January blues, we can, and should, remind ourselves that our hope, our sanity, our fulfillment, does not come from the many facts that our students learn or even the scores they receive on their tests.  Our daily hope and grace comes from our relationship in Jesus Christ.  Like David, we praise Him for being the source of help not only for ourselves, but for our children.  Homeschooling is one of the ways we are daily reminded of our need to look to God, because in our weakness, He is made strong.  (NIV, II Cor. 12.9-12)

As we press on in our studies with our children, let me encourage you to look to the Source of all strength.   Ask Him to remind you of the joy of your salvation. Go ahead and give yourself a pep talk. (Maybe you will even need to encourage another homeschooler with your own hope.) As I write this, I will be reminding myself to relish this season of homeschooling with Andrew and Sophia for it is a continued opportunity for me to lean on Christ and allow Him to continue to equip our family for His glory.