Who Is Teaching Who?

It was early in the morning of our first official day of school this year. I was mostly prepared. (As in one of my main teaching resources was due to come by UPS sometime later that afternoon.) Hubby had already left for work and none of the kids were awake yet.  I was about to open this book by Andrew Case because I love using his scripturally-derived prayers for my kids (and hubby). In the past, I'd never been big on reading/using other people's prayers but I've found that, when rooted in scripture, they help me to pray in ways I might not otherwise think of. I can take someone else's words, especially God's own words, and mean them from my heart.

Before I opened the book I asked God to lead me to verses/prayers that would be specifically relevant for our first day of school. I was kind of hoping to stumble upon something along the lines of "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart" or "she sets about her work diligently." You know, something to remind my kids about what they needed to do. Something to take the pressure off of me and put it on them. ;)

Starting a new year as a homeschool mom is very exciting but it also comes with a heavy weight. I'm responsible for so much. I need to decide what my kids will learn this year. I have to sort through a million curriculum choices and pick what's perfect for us. I need to know my stuff so I can pass along the knowledge to my kids. I need to be organized, and motivated, and....patient. (Yeah. Because the #1 misconception about homeschool moms is that we have more patience.)

So I opened up to where my bookmark was and read and prayed through two pages before I came to this: "Instruct my cherished children and teach them in the way they should go; counsel them with Your eye upon them."

Thank you Lord! (He does promise that when we pray in faith, according to His will, we will have what we ask for!) That part of the prayer came from Psalm 32:8:

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."

That was just the encouragement I needed and exactly what God wanted me to talk about with my kids that morning. He didn't want us to focus on what we need to do but on what he will do. What a great reminder that I am not really the teacher in this house - God is the one who is instructing, teaching, and counseling each one of us. My kids and I are each under the direct tutorship of Christ. He does use his Spirit and his Word to instruct me and counsels me on what I should in turn pass along to my kids but he can, does, and will teach them apart from me as well. What comfort!!

I decided that this would be our school verse this year. We will memorize it, write it, and talk about it often. It needs to be my compass this year.

Whether you are feeling the burden of teaching or counseling others or whether you are in great need of instruction and counsel for yourself, I share this in hopes that you also find encouragement and comfort in this truth from the mouth of the One who loves you very much. He will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. He will counsel you and watch over you.