Counting The Cost - August, 2014

"If one of you wanted to build a large building, you would sit down first and think of how much money it would take to build it. You would see if you had enough money to finish it, or when the base of the building is finished, you might see that you do not have enough money to finish it." Luke 14:28 - 29a

We aren't building a tower, but we are building our house and family (Proverbs 14:1). We don't need to count the pennies in our bank account, but we do need to count the cost of physical weariness, emotional exhaustion, and sacrifice that come due on a more or less regular basis to all homeschooling moms.

During this next school year as you juggle home, children, church, family, and friends, there will be times when you will become physically weary. Remember that God rested after creating the world, and you need to rest, too.

When you spend your days with your children, giving affection, educating, training, and discipling them, expect there to be times when you are emotionally exhausted. Remember to wait on the Lord and let Him renew your strength.

When you need to put some of your dreams and desires on the shelf in order to be the mother God wants you to be, remember that Christ laid down His life for us.

Now a word of caution: Don't make homeschooling more costly than God intends. God does not ask us to set unrealistic goals or standards that are higher than our children can reasonably attain. When we require a higher cost of ourselves than God wants, it is no wonder that we bankrupt ourselves emotionally and physically and are not able to finish building.

In Joy in the Journey by Lori Hatcher, she states that homeschooling is the hardest thing she has ever done, but "if I had the choice to make again, I'd do it in a heartbeat."

Homeschooling is hard and it has a price tag, so rely on God each step of the way, casting your burdens on Him, because although homeschooling is taxing, it is definitely worth the cost.