I was cleaning out my Bible today and came across my notes from a Mother’s Day sermon that my pastor’s wife preached back in May.
She talked about how her purse was filled with personal things that helped her along life’s journey and then she went on to show us several items that every mom should carry in their bag and added insightful reasons for each. It was a wonderful Mother’s Day sermon and I really took to heart much of what she had to say, but as I listened, I began to doodle in the margin of my notes of how I would tweak her items for the homeschool mother’s “purse”.
Along side a very snazzy doodle of a unicorn, here is the list that I found jotted down on the edge of my church bulletin from that Sunday morning…
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Ear Plugs to drown out the world’s voices of comparison.
Earlier this year, I wrote a post about being guilty of comparing myself with other homeschool moms and how awful it made me feel. I know that I am not the only one that needs to remember that this is a dangerous road for moms to walk down.
We need ear plugs to drown out the voices and the noise of comparison in our lives so we can dwell in a place of peace.
2 Corinthians 10:12 – We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
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A bouncing ball to remind you how to handle feelings of failure.
Do you carry around guilt over how well you are educating your children, how clean your house is, or if you are just plain good enough?
What happens when you throw a tennis ball really hard at a cement sidewalk? It bounces back with the same force that was used to throw it down.
We need a bouncing ball to remind us that the harder we go down, the higher we’re going to bounce back up as we keep our eyes and attitude focused on God.
Proverbs 24:16 – For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
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Puzzle Pieces to remind you how to make it all fit.
Homeschool moms have an insane amount of things to balance every day!
We need puzzle pieces to remind us that all things will flow and fit together as God shapes us through our strengths and weaknesses. God gives all and will instruct us and bring order to it all.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
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Taffy to remind you to enjoy the sweet stretch of each new phase of your family.
As your children grow older and step into each new phase of life, don’t forget to enjoy the sweetness of it all.
Homeschool moms are unlike traditional teachers who get to hone and perfect their lesson plans year after year. As our children enter a new grade each year, so do we! We get stretched with each new phase and sometimes we can get consumed with the details and miss out on what really matters.
We need taffy candy to remind us to enjoy the sweet stretch of each new and exciting year.
1 Chronicles 4:10 – Prayer of Jabez, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!”
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Knee Pads to remind you to take your place of power in prayer.
Above all else….pray!
Whatever you’re feeling each day, bring your needs and desires to the Lord and He will speak to your heart.
We need to carry knee pads in our purses to remind us that our most important position in our families isn’t as the homeschool teacher, but instead is on our knees.
James 5:16 – The heartfelt prayers of a righteous man or woman are powerful and effective.
So, what’s in your purse? Is it filled with things to help you along your journey?
Blessings,
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I love the analogies!! and, they are exactly what homeschoolers have to go through. It's amazing how all homeschooling families seem to go through these same situations and we all experience the doubt, etc… but in the end, you can look at your kids, and you *know* that you are doing the right thing for them.
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Gidget @ Homeschooling Unscripted
Recent Post: Geography for Jesus http://bit.ly/nsbhIX
Excellent reminder and wonderful analogies. Came at a time when I needed to read this. Thank you!
I love this! I definitely need the ear plugs. Not just for comparing to other homeschool moms, but to drown out those who would try to convince me that my kids need to go to public school. I know I'm doing what God has called me to do and I need to stop listening to them. Thanks for sharing such a great post!
Me too, Tiffany!
I just dealt with that this past week!
I would add an unfinished embroidery piece… just so I would remember that I need to consider the end goal! And– that God doesn't always show us the finished product!
Thanks Sue, I really needed this. Be blessed today.
Thank you for the insight, my friend. About to begin our first year homeschooling (2 girls, 11 and
and I'm needing to stay focused on what God has called our family to do and not what "society" claims my kids "need". Praying for all of us this year; that God would give us all a peace and confidence to sustain us through the tough times! Hugs 
Love this!! Thanks for the great reminders
Have a great school yea!
Thank you for this post. As a first time homeschooling mom it's great to know I'm not alone in these feelings. I'm going to print this post and place it near my desk in our class area so I can be reminded when I feel the doubt settle in.
I really needed this today…..
Thanks for sharing! That's exactly what I needed to remember today.
blessings,
Tonya
Wise words, aptly spoken. Wish every homeschooling mom could read this! Hugs – Maggie
oh i needed this, thank you.
brilliant- truly wise words! laughing cause I was all prepared to tell you about the giant fossilized shark tooth in my purse- funny thing is that may not be the strangest thing in there!
Great thoughts for any busy mom, not just us Homeschooling moms!
This is so sweet- and so right! I definitely need those earplugs!
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Excellent! During our 16 yrs of homeschooling, I spent 11 of those yrs lovingly being our county's homeschool coordinator ~ running the meetings, speaking, booking speakers, field trips, newsletter, web site…& holding LOTS of hands! Many of the things you touched on I would also remind our members of, especially the newbies. I hope many precious homeschool moms read this post! Blessings from Ohio…Kim