The Homeschool Minute – April 7, 2021

Mercy Every Minute  

Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor

Tired, Worn Out, Frustrated!

Mothering, ministry, homeschooling! All can wear us out. Some days (seasons) you will be functioning on a few hours of sleep. When we are this tired, a lot of things can happen to our emotions. We can become depressed and lose our joy. We need help.

Tired and Worn Out?

A little rest helps the body immensely. Whenever possible, take a 15 minute nap, and get to bed at a reasonable time. Ask for help from others. Go on a walk with the kids. Take a break and catch up on your reading list (the TOS App is free!) or watch a devotion on rest (see below). 

Frustrated?

What’s nagging you? Make a list and take 20 minutes a day to tackle one thing. Take a day off every two weeks to get things back in order. Organization is not a one-time goal; it is a daily keeping up on things. Are your children regularly disobeying or purposely slow? A little bit of consistent training (not yelling or berating) daily goes a long way towards peace. 

Hungry?

Eat better. Cut out the bad carbs and eat more protein and veggies. Your body and mind will wake up. Most importantly, eat Godly Bread throughout the day for strength. Place a verse where you will see it often. For example, let’s meditate on the following verse by breaking it into three parts:

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalms 16:11). 

1. You will show me the path of life: No one is able to show me the path for my life or my kids’ lives except God. I can read books or blogs, talk to friends, purchase curriculum, but it is God alone Who will show us His path and how to live. If I am lacking direction, I have probably begun to walk in my own understanding instead of seeking His.

2. In Your presence is fullness of joy: Nothing else and no one else can bring me joy. I will only find it in the presence of the Lord. I can seek material things, physical healing, or close relationships. But I will never find fullness until I am in His presence. It’s not about the things in this life that have to come to me (or leave me) in order to bring joy. It’s all about me in the presence of God and the presence of God in me! 

3. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore: I am prone to wander and look for pleasure in earthly things or people. I think I will find it in time to myself. It is only found in one place—at the right hand of God. A wandering heart will only find pain and loneliness. Wander back and sit with Christ; He is your pleasure. 

When we dwell in the presence of God we hear Him whisper His direction for life; we find our dreams and pleasures fulfilled, and we experience the fullness of joy! There’s no place I would rather be, and I will bring my kids there with me as I keep them Home Where They Belong.

~Deborah 

Video devotions:

Homeschooling and Rest, Part 1 – YouTube Schoolhouse Devotions

Homeschooling and Rest, Part 2 – YouTube Schoolhouse Devotions

Homeschooling and Rest, Part 3 – YouTube Schoolhouse Devotions

The Familyman 

Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries

REST…Even if it Kills You

Mom, can we talk? Why do you think you have to be Supermom? You live under the LIE that you have to do it all, be it all, and smile the entire time. The problem with thinking that is that YOU’RE NOT SUPERMOM.

You can’t do it all perfectly . . . you can’t be everything to everyone; you’re not from the planet Krypton! You’re just a wonderfully plain, ordinary mom who needs to rest and admit when you’re falling apart . . . and need a little R&R. But that’s the problem: you don’t want to admit it. You feel like admitting you need a rest or falling apart is the same as admitting defeat or failure. It’s not. It’s NORMAL.

Everyone needs to rest. You can’t keep the pedal to the medal and not FREAK OUT eventually.

So here’s what I prescribe:

• Tell your husband and/or kids you’re going to take a little break.
• Then do what sounds restful to YOU. Sit out in the sun, lay in bed and read, watch a movie, have lunch out with a friend, or just veg out and accomplish nothing.

I know you might be thinking to yourself, “Yes, but what sounds good to me is to get something cleaned up or checked off my list.” I’m sorry, Mom, but that doesn’t count . . . that’s not REST (you can do that stuff after you’ve rested).

So take it from me, Dr. Todd, and get nothing done. You’ll smile, your kids will smile, your husband will smile, and God will be pleased that you did.

Be real . . . and rest,

Todd

Pillar of Faith: Resting in Truth

It is very easy to become exhausted as a mom. So many needs! We often neglect ourselves while trying to serve everyone else. Recovering from exhaustion looks a lot of different ways. Physical exhaustion requires quality sleep, hydration, and nutrition. Taking time for basic “temple” maintenance is not selfish! It better equips us for the service God has intended for us. 

Recovering from mental and spiritual exhaustion is equally as simple but attainment may not be so speedy. The answer for the weary mind and heart is truth . . . hiding God’s Word in our hearts. Writing and praying scripture can help greatly in transforming our thinking. We want God’s truth to be richly woven into our fabric and beautifully embroidering our speech. 

It is wise to be educating our self-talk and getting our identity from Jesus. We do this by renewing our minds and running all thoughts through the “Philippians 4:8 Sieve”. We need to teach ourselves to think His way.

Let’s open our Bibles, and revisit a study on the names of God. To be reminded of His wondrous power, extravagant love, and limitless wisdom can comfort and bless us immeasurably and anchor us solidly! There is rest in learning of Him.

“We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.”

-Edith G. Cherry, 1895