Don’t panic. We don’t have ants. Well, at least not several ants. Just one. Here’s the deal … stick with me.
This week we kicked-off our school year. Homeschooling grades K, 2, and 7 creates many new challenges. I’m … no, we’re still working out our rhythm. I confess that this week has been a bit overwhelming, and not just for me. On Monday, Kadi and I sat down and went through her assignments for the week. We wrote out the work that needed to be accomplished over the course of the next five days. Bless her heart, she has a thoughtless mother/teacher sometimes. I failed to recognize how overwhelming it would be to receive all new curriculum, new textbooks, at a more advanced level, and then to get a weeks’ worth of work dumped on you. She was nearly in tears and clearly stressed, and I had to bite my tongue not to say, “Suck it up, honey. This is life. Seventh grade is NOT sixth grade.” Gulp. I’m not sure I bit my tongue in hind sight.
Did I mention that I’m thankful His mercies are new every morning and that Kadi is forgiving? I also recognize that God knows when I need a dose of my own medicine.
Last night was the first night of my Antioch class. Most of my readers know that I am in the beginning stages of working on a masters degree in theology. As I sat down with the guys in my class last night and read through the syllabus, I was a bit overwhelmed myself. I wasn’t so overwhelmed by the amount of work, but by the fact that I need to fit it into the rest of my insanely busy life. Here’s what I know to be true … God will only ask me to do that which I can handle. I need to be sure I’m talking to Him about the things I take on. When I’m teaching, speaking, writing … being a student, wife, mom, teacher, daughter of the King, if I’m doing what He asks, then He’ll use my time as a tithe.
What does this have to do with an ant? This morning I think my boys were slightly traumatized by our Apologia science experiment. We had to take a live ant and hold it under the water for 2-3 minutes until it quit struggling and appeared dead. Then we took it out and placed it on a napkin, poured a tiny bit of salt on it, blew the salt off and waited. It was like Lazarus … the little ant revived and crawled toward the edge of the napkin. The boys and I were learning about how ants breathe through tiny holes in their abdomen and how they have the ability to close off those holes when they are washed away or there is heavy rain. When the little ant dried off, he perked up.
Here’s the grace lesson … I was reminded that God gives us all a safety net when the floods come, when we’re overwhelmed and stressed. The sooner we quit struggling against the water, and rest in Him, the sooner He will revive us … giving us renewed energy to accomplish that which He has called us to do.
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I’ve been praying for all of you this week, wondering how school was going.
Your grace lesson fits perfectly with my own life this very day. All week, I’ve been struggling with one particular thing, and that one particular thing isn’t resolved, but after a very rough yesterday, we went to bed early, slept 11 solid hours, woke up today with a new mindset. Suddenly other things just fell into place, through no efforts of my own. All because I quit struggling – just like the ants.
Excellent.
Great lesson. Too bad I didn’t know about that when I was teaching. Sounds like something right up my alley for teaching science. I always tried to get in as many “God” moments as I could. Hang in there, it will get better. Also, don’t hesitate to ask me for kindergarten help, 30 years of experience you know.
That was a very wonderful lesson! I just came through a hectic month and I just stayed focused on the end so I would be overwhelmed by the current moments. Funny that now that I am at the end and all I have is homeschooling, even that doesn’t seem like a big deal anymore, LOL! I just started with having 2 students to teach and thankfully it isn’t going to bad, PTL!
I love your inspiring wisdom!
Thanks for sharing with us!
That’s a neat lesson. I’m glad you had an opportunity to connect with your daughter. I was a homeschooled, perfectionistic first born and often struggled with the high requirements I set out for myself, being the first homeschooled child in the entire clan led to a lot of stress too (everyone was watching. I’m so thankful that I was not pushed (overtly) by my parents. I really hope that when I homeschool that my first born, perfectionistic tendencies will not multiply my first born child’s, etc. God is teaching me a lot about grace. Thanks for this post.
WOW that is a lesson we all need to keep fresh in our minds. There are so many times we feel overwelmed but if we trust in God and give a little time things will work out. Thanks for the reminder.
Cool about you going for Theology! Good luck.
I too find solace in God’s creation, although I can’t say an ant, or any other insect for that matter, has ever been the inspiration. Beauty in nature, a sunset, a flower, trees against the skyline…these evidences of God’s handiwork bring me the peace I need in times of trouble.
Wow! A master’s degree and homeschooling? That’s amazing. I liked your story of the ant. Sometimes I feel like that ant. Holding my breath until I can make it to a safer spot. Thanks for the reminder.
Your lessons are always pertinent ones that I need to take as manna for today. When I look at all that is before me it is indeed overwhelming, but if I allow the Lrod to direct my steps….it will all turn out perfect!!!
Great lesson. I didn’t know that about the ant, but that is very interesting. I get overwhelmed and stressed often and I will definitely take what you said to heart.
I didn’t know that about the ant. How does the salt help it?
Great lesson. Ants are no fun. Stressful schoolwork is not fun!
This is so my life…my dd just started 7th grade and I had warned her her work load would probably double…the first week she freaked…it took her over 8 hours to finish all her work…needless to say I was not happy…while homeschool her brother who is in 5th I thought I was going to loose my mind…It did take a while to hit a stride…they are doing much better …I have made some adjustment but a good amount of it is that she did buckle down and get it done…they keep wanting to go play with the four chickens that turned out to be roosters…now that is another story…thank you for being so generous…I love the green color of this page…makes the writing pop…
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I am thinking of starting the homeschooling journey next year. It is nice to know that there are others out there who are more experienced and still trying to find their rhythm and that things don’t always run perfectly. From the outside looking in…everyone else always seems so much more knowledgable and organized than me…I often wonder if I could even accomplish much during the day.