This week in Raising Arrows we are talking about homeschooling with littles underfoot. Before we could jump into the practical side of thoughts and ideas on how to pull off the day to day tasks with littles, first we must address our hearts.
It’s not hard to look out in our culture and find someone speaking demeaningly about children, memes on facebook that complain about them, abort them if it isn’t a convenient time for you to have a child, or put them in day care if staying home with them is too much for you. We won’t even get started on the view the world has on stay at home moms and then add to that homeschool moms – right?!? These views in culture can permeate the church too. We’ve been to churches where there were signs on the sanctuary doors saying “no children in the sanctuary” or heard a pastor ask an usher to escort the crying baby out of the sanctuary. Children are not looked at as a blessing, a joy, or a gift in todays culture.
It’s hard not to allow the blaring noise of the world to seep into our minds as well. In the day in day out thankless job of motherhood it can be hard to keep the right perspective. So let me remind you of a few things.
Psalms 127:3-5
Behold children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior so are the children of your youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
Children are a reward a gift from the Lord and the big word in these verses is HAPPY!!! When we focus not on the endless tasks that come along with feedings, changing diapers, and all the work entailed to us with little children but instead view these children through the eyes of the Lord and remember these babies are a daily gift and reminder of the goodness of the Lord. We should find so much joy and delight in our children.
I love this quote from Gloria Furman “When I view motherhood not as a gift from God to make me holy but rather as a role with tasks that get in my way, I am missing out on one of God’s ordained means of spiritual growth in my life. Not only that, but I’m missing out on enjoying God.”
We are the ones missing out on the joy and gift of our children when we allow the lies of the world to change our view of our children. We must take our thoughts captive. Colossians 2:8 says See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, According to the traditions of men rather than according to Christ. Mama’s this verse is for us – we have to test our thoughts about our children through scripture. We want our children to see us find joy in them and really in the Lord.
So the rest of this week we will talk about all the practical but today we need to make sure our hearts are in the right place with the Lord.
Looking forward to talking about our littles more this week. Love you all!
