September 23, 2003
Looking for a Ministry Opportunity?
Years ago I worked "in the ministry," meaning I was employed by a Christian ministry in the Dallas area. Then I had a child and left the ministry to be a stay-at-home mom. Then three years later I had another child. After the second child was born, I started an Internet ministry (SafeHaven Ministries) and for four years I juggled the kids, the house, the husband, the home schooling, and the online ministry. What I learned from that experience, was I really am not Wonder Woman! I couldn't do it all!
As a result I resigned from SafeHaven and handed it over to one of my volunteers, who has been running the site successfully for the past three years. (Thanks again, Carla!) Since that time, I have continued to look for a "ministry" in which to be involved. But everything I tried fell flat or flat-out failed, and I couldn't figure out why....
Then one day recently (I'm ashamed to say!), it finally occurred to me: home schooling my children is my ministry! It was one of those epiphanic moments where it seemed the clouds should part, the heavens should open wide, shining down a ray of brilliant light from above with a choir of angels singing the Hallelujiah chorus. Of course it wasn't that dramatic, but it I almost felt it should have been.
Once I realized that for this season of my life, this is my ministry, I was freed from the tiring search that had taken me nowhere. It was as though I could finally unpack my bags, settle into my home schooling routine, and relax. The search had ended, and as usual, the very thing for which I was looking was right under my nose the entire time!
How foolish we human beings can be sometimes! Always striving, always searching, always longing for that elusive "thing" that will bring us fulfillment, or significance, or joy. When all along if we would just open our hearts to the things God has brought us to--or brought to us!--we could save ourselves a lot of needless waste of time and energy.
I always fancied myself a pretty quick study, but the more I learn, the more I realize (in some areas, at least), I'm a slow-learner! But thankfully, eventually I catch on. Now when I consider the investment I'm making in the lives of two of the most wonderful people I know, I realize this is the best ministry of all!
"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." ~Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Posted by at September 23, 2003 07:52 PM
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Comments
I am insulted that you used this very religious Jewish prayer in your comments of homeschooling. You oviously have no idea what the prayer means.
Posted by: Sue | September 24, 2003 02:56 PM
I am sorry you were offended, Sue.
My understanding of those words is that we are to teach our children throughout the day-- wherever we go, whatever we do--about the words and ways of the Lord. That is central both to our home schooling and to our lives.
Again, I'm sorry you were offended.
Posted by: Mary Comm | September 24, 2003 04:34 PM
This article really helped me a lot!!! I have been feeling like I need to be serving the Lord and so that is the reason I clicked on the article!!! The Lord had been quietly telling me what you said in this article, but I insisted I should be doing something more!!!! So, he sent me this article and now I am listening to him :0)!!! Thank you for the article, and Thank you Jesus for finding a way to tell me, so that I would listen!!!
Posted by: Tara | September 25, 2003 07:38 PM