Renewal

Isn't renewal a lovely thing? It's a time of newness and freshness. Even a physical renewal can serve to brighten the spirit. It re-invigorates. We all need it sometimes. We get stuck in the stressors of life and need to be reminded of what we know to be true.

Renewal~ it's a good thing.

The last couple of weeks have started a time of renewal for me. It's been a physical and emotional renewal as well as a renewal of purpose and vision.

One thing I have learned is that I should not have stopped taking my supplements so soon. Money is very tight, and so I had no funds to replace my vitamins (of various kinds) when I ran out of them. I had been feeling fine. I thought I would be fine without the supplements. Boy, was I wrong?

Postpartum depression crept right back into my life. By the time I realized it was back, it was already here with a vengeance. I was sinking in that pit again. I couldn't function. Daily tasks were too stressful and sent me into a fit of tears. I had to have my supplements again. So– the money set aside for school books had to be absorbed into the family budget in order to buy my supplements. After all, what good are school books without a Momma to teach from them?

Anyway, lesson learned. Even after going back on only part of my supplements, I'm beginning to feel that physical and emotional renewal. I'm beginning to feel more like myself again.

After having been in a funk for what seems like such a long while, I felt that I also needed to remind myself why I feel called to home educate my children. I needed a fresh vision. I needed to put the joy and fun back into teaching my children. I needed a renewal of purpose.

I decided to re-read one of my favorite books about homeschooling and mothering a large family. No matter how many times I read this particular book, I am always refreshed. Within the first reading, I was reminded of Deuteronomy 6:6-9.

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

I just need to remember that educating my children is a part of life. I need to remember that the most important thing for me to teach them is to love God. Teach and talk about the things of life as we go about our day. Everything else will fall into place.

I'm not in this alone. God has called me to it, and He will walk with me. I was also reminded of Galatians 6:9.